Why Gov. Greg Abbott wants to let taxpayers decide whether cities can raise

FORT WORTH, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott, as part of his reelection campaign, wants to make it harder for Texas cities and counties to raise property taxes — a move that would put local governments in an even tighter financial bind as the state grows.

That goal is a key tenet of Abbott’s property tax-cut platform, the centerpiece of his 2026 campaign. Abbott has also called for eradicating school property taxes for homeowners and slowing growth in property values. Some conservative groups and lawmakers have embraced the platform, which has been met with mixed reception from tax policy experts.

Much of Abbott’s proposals are an extension of ideas lawmakers have tried in the past. In a bid to rein in city and county tax bills, lawmakers in 2019 enacted tighter limits on how much more in proper