Abbott urges Weslaco crowd to back plan to end school property taxes on homesteads, says state surplus would replace district revenues

By José Luis Martínez

Gov. Greg Abbott pledged to eliminate school property taxes for homestead owners while campaigning in Weslaco on Wednesday.

The cuts would only cover a homeowner’s primary residency, but it would not eliminate property taxes owed to the county, city or other taxing entity. Eliminating the portion paid out to school districts, Abbott said, would cut the total property tax bill by about 60%.

“From now until election day, get involved, get engaged, say, ‘You want the Abbott Property Tax Abolition to get passed this next session,’” Abbott said as he closed the afternoon event at a CIL Shipping facility near the Mid Valley Airport. He had vocal support from Genevieve Collins, state director for the conservative group Americans for Prosperity.