Texas House Bill HB2338

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Introduced: 3/4/11
• Out of House Committee: 5/4/11
• Voted on by House: 5/13/11
• Refer: 3/10/11
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/21/11
• Report Pass: 4/21/11
• Voted on by Senate: 5/25/11
• Engrossed: 5/13/11
• Governor Action: 6/17/11
• Refer: 5/16/11
• Report Pass: 5/21/11
• Enrolled: 5/26/11
• Passed: 6/17/11

Caption

Relating to the posting on the Internet by the county assessor-collector of information regarding ad valorem tax rates.

Impact

The introduction of HB 2338 is expected to have significant implications for local government operations and taxpayer awareness. By mandating the disclosure of key tax rate information, the bill promotes informed citizen engagement and potentially increases public scrutiny of taxing entities. This could lead to enhanced accountability among local governments as residents will have direct access to vital financial data that influences their tax burdens.

Summary

House Bill 2338 seeks to enhance transparency regarding property tax rates by requiring county assessor-collectors to post specific tax-related information on their official county websites. This requirement pertains to tax rates for the most recent five years and aims to provide residents with easily accessible and clear information about their local tax obligations. The data to be shared includes adopted, maintenance and operations, debt, effective, and rollback tax rates, all compiled into a structured 'Truth in Taxation Summary'.

Contention

While the bill is geared towards improving transparency, it could also be met with resistance from local officials who may view it as an additional bureaucratic obligation. Some may argue that the requirements could strain resources, particularly in smaller counties where staffing and funding are limited. Additionally, there could be concerns about the accuracy of the data being presented and the potential for misinterpretation by the public. The requirement to include specific disclaimers with the information is an attempt to mitigate this issue, but it could still lead to confusion among taxpayers regarding their local rates.