North Texas News

A dozen Texas cities are asking their residents to approve billions in new debt on the ballot this weekend. 

Property tax rates will reportedly be unchanged by the hefty bonds, which are slated to fund various parks and recreation and infrastructure needs. Tax analysis group the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association (TTARA) warns Texans to be prepared for sticker shock when receiving their property appraisals this year but adds that residents ultimately do have some control over their property tax rates.

"The simple truth is no matter what your appraisal, property tax bills would not be going up unless local jurisdictions wanted to spend more money," TTARA wrote in a report earlier this month detailing increasing property tax rates across the state. "Regardless of your 2022 appraisal, right now your 2022 tax bill is zero. Your tax bill won't be set until the jurisdictions in which you reside decide how much money they want to raise and set their tax rates."

These new bonds would add to the debt currently being paid down by city residents and, while property tax rates might remain nominally unchanged, more debt would increase the payment burden for every individual, according to tax critics.

Texas Scorecard adds that, although officials in the impacted cities say there are no plans or expectations to raise tax rates, this doesn't mean that locals won't be met with property tax increases; raising taxes won't be necessary, the report stated, with property values skyrocketing and raking in more come tax season on its own. 

The 12 Texas cities—Burleson, Cedar Park, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Kerrville, Live Oak, Longview, Mansfield, San Antonio, Shavano Park, Windcrest and Winnsboro—have put a combined $2.3 billion in new debt up for vote on May 7.

The City of Winnsboro has eight bond propositions totaling $11.0 million on the ballot. The bonds will reportedly support projects related to parking lots, the city civic center, multiple transportation projects and the farmers market. 

According to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, the state’s total local debt burden including principal and interest was more than $365.3 billion in 2019, or a debt of $12,500 for every Texan.