Mayor Ross Against Tax Payers Again

"Mayors Steve Adler and Craig Morgan along with Bastrop Mayor Connie Schroeder, Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross and Pflugerville Mayor Victor Gonzalez — want you to understand the impending crisis. The Statesman

State legislators will soon consider 2.5 percent property tax “revenue cap” proposals that endanger Texans and provide no real property tax relief. The proposals, House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 2, limit what cities can raise in property taxes to fund city services."

Mayor Ross and the others continue to cry crisis if the voters are allowed to approve any budget that grows over 2.5% year over year. They say they will have to cut public safety. That is hogwash!! There are many other items in the budget that could be reduced or eliminated. They are just afraid that they will not be able to convince voters that new city buildings, new tax abatements and new programs are essential and a budget increase over the 2.5% trigger is required.

After all, Georgetown's EMS for example is now paying its own way as is the airport, waste water and storm water programs.

Maybe the City does not need to spend thousands of dollars on things like the Grace Heritage Center. There are many budget items that could be reduced, other than public safety, if the voters declined budget growth over 2.5%.

The Mayors are putting out so much disinformation that one might think we were living in a communist state.

First of all, the 2.5% is NOT a cap, but, a trigger for a vote.

Second, the 2.5% trigger only applies to revenue growth from existing property. New property and the development on new and existing property is exempt from the trigger. Therefore, the proposed legislation accommodates growth.

Mayor Ross needs to stop with the scare mongering and get on the side of the Georgetown tax payers.