Quintero: 'The Texas Legislature has a historic opportunity to provide substantial tax relief to all Texans'

James Quintero, policy director for the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Government for the People initiative, pointed out the opportunity for tax relief for Texans in a recent newsletter.

Property taxes have risen recently, and Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) lent his support to a plan that would lower property taxes across the state of Texas. Harris County has one of the highest property tax bills in the state.

"The Texas Legislature has a historic opportunity to provide substantial tax relief to all Texans," Quintero said in his newsletter. "The need for real relief is great too. Thanks to Washington, D.C.'s reckless fiscal path and easy-money environment, Texans are paying more for food, gas, and rent. It's been a nightmare for families and the low-income. People need a helping hand, and the state legislature is in a position to give it."

Quintero was reacting to a report from the Texas comptroller that showed there are almost $30 billion in surplus state funds, according to The Texan.

"We must use a substantial portion of this money to cut property taxes in Texas," Abbott said on Twitter, showing his support for lowering the property tax burden of Texans by using those funds.

The Balance ranked Texas among the 10 states with the highest property tax rates in the United States, with a median payment of $4,065 per year.

The median annual property tax bill for a home in Harris County this year is $3,040, according to data from tax-rates.org.