AUSTIN, Texas — A lawsuit has been filed against Travis County officials, accusing the county of using a disaster tax to increase property taxes.

Shane Saum and Jeffery Bowen argue Travis County leaders used the disaster tax to collect $42 million for flood recovery efforts following the deadly Fourth of July weekend floods. .

The lawsuit claims the county only collected $20 million in actual flood-related costs. The Texas Tax Code allows temporary disaster-related rate increases; however, that money can only be used for what they deem necessary expenses.

Saum, the mayor-elect of Lago Vista, and Bowen, a former Austin mayoral candidate, claim the excess money is going to unrelated projects and are asking the Travis County Commissioners Court to block the county from spending extra fun

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