We absolutely love the Americans For Prosperity organization. Their e-mails provide us with what the heck is going on statewide regarding tax-and-spend measures. Well, in Harris County -- and something taxpayers here should consider lobbying for -- the commissioners court voted to cut off ties with the Texas Association of Counties. TAC uses taxpayer funds to pay for lobbyists to in turn, lobby for more government spending, bigger government, more government spending, etc.
Regardless of what county officials might say, this would be a great step if Ellis County would -- and if we're wrong on this, County Auditor Mike Navarro will tell us quickly -- sever its ties to this organization. At least just with the membership part, not the retirement system (unless lobbyists' money comes from the retirement investment accounts).
If you aren't registered, you can't vote!
A friendly reminder to all our citizen activists: You must be registered to vote by April 12 in order to be able to vote in any local elections being held on May 12. There is a state constitutional amendment on the ballot in May that will extend the property tax exemption for seniors. In addition, this election includes those pesky school bonds, the mayoral elections, and many other things! Tell all your neighbors, your friends, and the people at the local 7-11! For more information, including how to obtain an early ballot by mail, visit the Secretary of State's website: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/index.shtml
If taxpayer protection legislation is not passed this year, the savings that taxpayers should be receiving from the recent one-third cut to school property tax rates will be eaten up through increased appraisals within the next three to six years, according to Tom Pauken, chairman of the Appraisal Reform Task Force.
No one remembers the $1 billion property tax cut then-Gov. George Bush gave. The school property tax cut will certainly evaporate if the legislature does not act this session to enact taxpayer protections such as those in Rep. Carl Isett's HB 3534 and Rep. Bill Callegari's HB 2553.
Taxpayers must have greater control over the growth of government.
Groups opposing the taxpayer protects are lead by the Texas Municipal League, a group which represents Texas cities and is funded by taxpayers and companies that contract with cities.
TML's leading spokesman last session was then-Friendswood City Manager Ron Cox. But that was last session. Friendswood City Council voted unanimously just last week for a resolution to rebuke TML and their reference to a taxpayer tour. The TML referred to the Americans for Prosperity's Taxpayer Trust Tour as an "anti-city Jihad."
In August, Friendswood City Council discussed the TML lobby activities and several council members addressed their concerns that TML represents big government and higher taxes, in stark contrast with their constituents' views.
Are taxpayers' voices being overshadowed by the associations their tax dollars are supporting? You bet they are!
Citizens need to contact their legislators and say taxpayers expect protections which assure us that the school property tax cuts won't be devoured by other local taxing entities, either through appraisal or tax rate increases. Legislators will be held accountable, and need to be listening to taxpayers, not associations using our tax dollars to advocate for bigger government.
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