Austin News

GOP candidate for governor Don Huffines is standing up against "out of control" local property taxes in Texas.

Huffines, a former state senator and businessman, will face Gov. Greg Abbott in the gubernatorial primary set for March 1.

“Local government spending and local property taxes are entirely out of control. When I am governor of Texas, we will rein in local governments and put property taxes on a pathway to zero,” Huffines said in a statement.

The Texas Bond Review Board released data finding $250 billion in local debt across the state. Most of property tax debt was accumulated by local school districts, which alone hold nearly $150 billion in debt, The Texan reported.

The local tax problem is turning the heads of others as well.

“Local governments are borrowing us into oblivion. As a result, property taxes are being pushed higher at a time when many can’t afford it,” James Quintero, policy director for Texas Public Policy Foundation, said according to The Texan.  

The portion of local tax debt is $8,500 per every citizen in Texas.

The State of Texas holds only $846 in debt per citizen by way of comparison. 

In addition, Huffines has been critical of state public school districts that have engaged in teaching what he considers to be radical curriculum. Specifically, Huffines cited critical race theory, which he describes as a divisive Marxist ideology, according to Austin News.

Huffines is a Republican who represented Texas’ 16th State Senate District from 2015 to 2019. He operates Huffines Communities, a real-estate development company in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.