Austin homeowners have watched appraisals skyrocket while services stay mediocre. At what point does 'tax revolt' stop being a political slogan and become a real community conversation?
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Add your commentI moved here from California specifically to escape high taxes and now my effective tax rate is somehow comparable. I feel personally deceived by a bumper sticker.
I sold in 2021, moved to Dripping Springs, and my quality of life went up and my tax bill went down. Highly recommend the coward's way out.
My grandmother has lived in her East Austin house since 1974. Her tax bill has tripled in eight years. She did nothing wrong. She just stayed. That's the real story nobody wants to talk about.
I protested my appraisal three years in a row and won every time. Document EVERYTHING, pull comparable sales yourself, and show up in person. The system CAN be beaten but it requires a full Saturday of your life.
Property taxes in Texas exist because we have no income tax. You cannot complain about both. Pick one lane.
^ Bastrop is also getting expensive now, just so you know. There's nowhere left to run.
^ effective rate vs. dollar amount — two different things. In dollar terms on appreciated Austin homes we're absolutely at the top. Context matters.
the homestead exemption increase helped me like $200 a year. my appraisal went up $60,000. the math is not mathing
The protest process at TCAD is designed to exhaust you into giving up. I spent four hours in that building to save $340. Never again.
what gets me is that schools are supposedly funded by property taxes but our school buildings are still falling apart. where is the money going exactly
Revolt against what exactly? The appraisal district? Travis County? The state legislature? There's no one villain here which is exactly how they like it.
People in Austin complaining about property taxes while sitting on $700k in home equity really test my sympathy. Sell, move to Bastrop, retire. There are options.
The real revolt should be against the legislature in Austin (ironic) that keeps blocking cities from having more revenue flexibility. This is a state policy problem being felt locally.
revolt lol. Austin will vote for the same city council members and complain about the same things next november. this city is allergic to actually changing anything
Texas property taxes are actually NOT the highest in the nation — New Jersey, Illinois, and Connecticut are all higher. Not defending them just saying the 'highest in america' claim people keep making is factually wrong.
long time austin landlord here (yes boo me, get it out) — my taxes went up, rents went up. cause and effect. you want lower rents, fix the tax structure.
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