Ft Worth Times

Texas property taxes have recently been an area of dispute as home value appraisals have risen, leading to increased property tax assessments.

A key factor in surging property tax rates are hikes in the amount of spending that local governments want, the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association (TTARA) said in a recent report. The desires of the citizens of Texas also play a role in this.

"The simple truth is no matter what your appraisal, property tax bills would not be going up unless local jurisdictions wanted to spend more money," TTARA said in the report. "Regardless of your 2022 appraisal, right now your 2022 tax bill is zero. Your tax bill won't be set until the jurisdictions in which you reside decide how much money they want to raise and set their tax rates."

Texans will experience "sticker shock" when receiving their property tax appraisals for the year, TTARA said.

Fort Worth's property tax increased by 33.6% from $460.8 million to $615.8 million during the span of 2016-20, the Texas Public Policy Foundation said in a report. The combined population and inflation for the city surged by 15.2% during that period as well, culminating in a difference of 18.5%.

Appraised property values are predicted to rise throughout the state of Texas from between 20% to 50% during this year, The Texan reported. Property values are an important contributing factor in the determination of property taxes. The school district in which one lives also plays a role in the property tax rate that person will face each year.

School districts account for a majority of property tax money in Texas, The Texan reported. Large cities in the state often have the highest rates.