Government

Perry designates property tax relief for senior citizens and tax rebates as emergency items for Legislature

From the Office of Gov. Rick Perry

January 19, 2007

AUSTIN– Gov. Rick Perry today declared legislation authorizing property tax relief for senior citizens and legislation authorizing state tax rebates as emergency items for the 2007 legislative session. The emergency designation will allow lawmakers to begin considering these issues in the initial 30 days of the legislative session.

“I want to see a constitutional amendment on the May ballot so that seniors get the maximum amount of tax relief on this year’s tax bill the same as other homeowners,” Perry said. “Just because senior citizens have their tax rates frozen doesn’t mean they should be left out in the cold when it comes to additional rate relief.”

“To keep government fiscally responsible, state leaders need the authority to rebate surplus funds directly to taxpayers,” Perry said.

The text of the Governor’s message to the House and Senate follows:

I, RICK PERRY, Governor of the State of Texas, pursuant to Article III, Section 5, of the Texas Constitution and by this special message, do hereby submit the following emergency matters for immediate consideration to the Senate and House of Representatives of the 80th Legislature, now convened:

Legislation authorizing the reduction of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for public school purposes on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect any reduction in the rate of those taxes.

Legislation providing that state appropriations made for the purpose of directly reducing local property taxes and state appropriations made for the purpose of returning state funds to the public do not count against the constitutional state spending limit and authorizing the legislature to provide for the grant of public money for the purpose of returning state funds to the public.