GAINESVILLE, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott used a campaign stop in Gainesville on Tuesday to promote an affordability plan that includes reducing school property taxes for some homeowners, limiting appraisal increases and lowering utility and health care costs.
Abbott met with community leaders at a 12:30 p.m. roundtable alongside Republican state Rep. David Spiller. The visit was part of a statewide campaign tour focused on rising household expenses and followed a morning stop in Palestine.
Abbott’s campaign says the plan could save the average Texas homeowner as much as $3,000 a year. The governor said his goal is to make Texas the most affordable state, but major parts of the proposal would require legislative approval and changes to how public services are funded.
Housing supply
Abbott said expanding the supply of homes is central to lowering costs. He pointed to proposals to reduce regulations, speed up permitting and make it less expensive to build single-family homes and apartments.
He said state lawmakers passed housing legislation last session and that some cities have used additional local requirements that can raise construction costs. Abbott said the state should withhold sales tax from cities that violate those housing laws until they comply.
The governor did not identify Gainesville or another Cooke County city as a target for that enforcement approach during the visit. The proposal would affect local governments if enacted and could become part of the Legislature’s next debate over housing policy.
Property taxes
Abbott also described a plan to eliminate school district property taxes for new homebuyers. He said the state would replace the revenue so school districts remain fully funded, while the change would cut the property-tax portion of a new homeowner’s bill.
The proposal comes as housing costs have risen across North Texas. Abbott said median home prices in Cooke and Grayson counties have doubled since he took office in 2015, while median wages have increased 40 percent. The source of those figures was not identified during the roundtable.
The affordability platform also includes a proposed cap on annual appraisal increases, a requirement that voters approve future local tax increases by a two-thirds majority, and limits on prescription co-pays for inhalers and EpiPens.
Abbott has not released a detailed plan for replacing any school funding lost through property-tax changes. Residents will have to wait for legislative proposals and debate before the measures’ final costs, implementation dates and effects on local budgets are known.
Abbott is seeking re-election in November against Democrat Gina Hinojosa. The governor’s affordability record is expected to remain part of that campaign, while lawmakers will determine whether and how the proposals become law.