Appraisal Cap Bill Voted Out of House Ways and Means Committee
5% “Cap” Bill Goes to House Floor Along with Truth-in-Taxation Reform Bill

HOUSTON - March 17, 2005 - House Bill 784 authored by Representative Dwayne Bohac was voted out of the House Ways and Means Committee earlier today on a 5-2 vote. The 5% appraisal cap measure now goes to the full House for a floor vote.

The action was taken after a lengthy committee hearing yesterday evening in which testimony was heard from many witnesses including Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt who stated, “All property tax collections in the state grew by 71.5% from 1996 to 2003, totaling $28.893 billion. In addition, the average appraised value of all Texas residences increased by nearly 25% to $101,480 in just three years from 2000 to 2003. The statewide average residential county tax bill rose by over 32% in the same period as the residential taxable value increases brought on by higher appraisals were then further ballooned by average tax rate hikes of approximately 1.7% a year.”

“The same equation applies for all taxpayers from the Red River to the Rio Grande in Texas. Appraisal-driven taxable value increases of property, factored with tax rate increases, produced over a 10% a year increase in the average residential county tax bill. This is an example of why all Texans need long-term property tax relief and why I strongly support the committee’s action,” added Bettencourt.

In addition, Bettencourt’s public testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee included support for HB 1006 authored by Representative Isett. HB 1006 would lower the property tax public hearing and rollback limits to 3% and 5% respectively and would automatically schedule a rollback election, eliminating the need to gather petitions. This Truth-in-Taxation reform was also passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee today.

Both Rep. Bohac’s and Rep. Isett’s bills now go before the full House for public debate. Bettencourt’s testimony before the committee can be viewed at www.hctax.net.

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