Eltife Files Half-Cent Sales Tax For Local Property Tax Relief

[Press Release from Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler)

Austin, Texas--Senator Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, announced today that he filed Senate Bill 407, legislation authorizing cities and counties to impose an additional half-cent sales tax for property tax relief.   Under the legislation, cities and counties could, with voter approval, enact an additional one-fourth cent each exclusively for the purpose of lowering property taxes.

“I believe we must continue to do everything possible to give homeowners property tax relief.  It is a local option, so local governments and the voters can decide if they prefer to swap property taxes for sales taxes,” Eltife said.

Senator Eltife pitched the idea of giving cities and counties this authority during a meeting of the Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform held last year in Tyler.

“As we all work to provide meaningful property tax relief, I believe this legislation will be an essential tool that cities and counties can use to help give taxpayers much needed relief,”  Eltife concluded.