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Disclaimer: The following editorial was written and published by Robert Coyle, and does not necessarily reflect the views of KHTW Freedom1300 management or its advertisers. 

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          One of the benefits of voting in the Primary Election, aside from the ability to choose the candidate of your respective political party who best represents your expectations, is earning the privilege of participating as a Delegate in the Precinct Convention, and advance as a Delegate in the County Convention. 

          This past Saturday morning, I attended the Precinct 13 Convention at the newly-opened Lumberton Event Center, which is adjacent to City Hall. At the convention, I submitted a resolution for consideration. It was entitled Constitutional Amendment Eliminating Property Tax on Residential Homestead:

 

Constitutional Amendment Eliminating Property Tax on Residential Homestead

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WHEREAS, property taxes impose a heavy and ever-increasing burden on Texas homeowners, threatening the principle of private property ownership, 

 

WHEREAS, property taxes are the largest and most regressive tax burden on Texans, and

 

WHEREAS, school district property taxes could be eliminated, with the State funding public education through existing revenue streams, such as the Education Lottery  and state budget surpluses, and 

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WHEREAS, abolishing property tax imposed upon residential homesteads would restore true ownership of land, homes and businesses to Texas, aligning with core Republican principles of individual liberty and responsibility, and 

WHEREAS, replacement of revenue must come from existing sources, to include the Texas Lottery and budget surpluses, and must include strict controls on government spending to prevent future tax increases; 

 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the voters of Precinct 13, Hardin County, Texas support the complete elimination of reticent homestead property taxes in Texas through a voter-approved constitutional amendment.

 

          My resolution was opposed by the delegates in attendance, which included District 28 Representative Janis Holt, whose jurisdiction includes San Jacinto, Liberty and Hardin Counties. Representative Holt voted against the resolution, and when I mentioned after the convention that I would be publishing an editorial regarding her position on abolishing residential homestead property taxes, as reflected in her vote cast at the Hardin County Republican Convention, she said that you be “dishonest.”

          According to be Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word dishonest is defined as unworthy of trust or belief, often employing a willful perversion of the truth to deceive, cheat or defraud. 

          “Our citizens are being taxed out of their homes.” Holt said in the past regarding the imposition of residential homestead property taxes. Source: https://bluebonnetnews.com/2025/10/14/headlines-and-heartlines-state-rep-janis-holt-discusses-education-property-tax-relief-illegal-immigration-and-district-concerns/

          She’s right. Constantly-increasing property taxes fueled by unelected appraisal district boards are imposing an unsustainable burden on homeowners. 

          But saying one thing and doing another is dishonest and unethical. If you cast a vote against a resolution, this means you are opposed to the elements proposed. 

          Based on her words and campaign promises, Representative Janis Holt believes that “our citizens are being taxed out of their homes.” But based on her actions, as reflected at the Hardin County Republican Party Convention, Representative Holt believes Texans are not being taxed out of their homes, property taxes are not a burden on homeowners, property taxes cannot be eliminated though reallocation of existing budget sources such as budget surpluses, the Texas Lottery, and spending reductions, and the elimination of homestead property taxes would not restore true home ownership to homeowners. 

          There is currently a homestead exemption which reduces some (but not all) property taxes from residential homesteads. The current homestead exemption should be permanently expanded to include all taxes applied against residential homesteads, in whatever form and amount. 

          Since the Hardin County Republican Party is opposed to eliminating property taxes on residential homesteads, as well as reducing government spending, this issue should be placed before all voters as a proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution as a ballot initiative. In order for a proposed constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot, the Texas State Legislature must propose the amendment in a joint resolution of both the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives. The joint resolution can originate in either the House or the Senate. The resolution must be adopted by a vote of at least two-thirds of the membership of each house of the legislature. That amounts to a minimum of 100 votes in the House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Senate.

          Given Janis Holt’s opposition to eliminating property taxes on residential homesteads, would she support a resolution in the Texas House of Representatives and allow the voters to decide?           

          You can email her at Janis.holt@house.texas.gov and let her know your feelings on this important matter.