San Antonio Standard

A dozen cities across Texas have a combined $2.3 billion in new debt up for approval on May 7, according to Texas Scorecard.

These new bonds would add to the debt currently being paid down by residents. While property tax rates might remain unchanged, any new bond that is approved would increase the payment burden for every individual. 

A report by the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association (TTARA) detailed increasing property tax rates across Texas. TTARA said that residents should expect to experience sticker shock when receiving their appraisals this year. But, ultimately, Texans have some control over their property tax rates.

"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," the TTARA report said. "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."

The city of Live Oak has one bond proposition totaling $18 million on the ballot on May 7 to fund street improvements. 

The Texas Public Policy Foundation reported that the state’s total local debt burden, including principal and interest, was more than $365.3 billion in fiscal year 2019, equating to a debt of approximately $12,500 for every Texan.