Paxton blocks 130+ Texas cities from raising property taxes over audit rules

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said his office has informed more than 130 Texas cities they can’t raise property taxes because they allegedly failed to comply with Senate Bill 1851, which ties tax increases to annual financial audits and statements. The move targets largely smaller cities as part of an ongoing effort to curb unduly high taxes; larger cities like Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Corpus Christi were not on the initial list, and Odessa was also not included as the investigation continues and cities respond with audit documentation.