Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday a proposed legislation that would freeze property taxes in any city that defunds police.
“Any city that defunds police departments will have its property tax revenue frozen at the current level,” Abbott said. “They will never be able to increase property tax revenue again if they defund police. Cities can’t cut law enforcement and then turn around and increase taxes on the residents they just endangered.”
The Austin City Council last week voted to cut police funding by a third to invest in social services. However, Abbott cited recent reports showing the City of Austin being number one in percentage increase in the numbers of murders.
Murders in Austin rose by 64 percent in a year-to-year comparison while the city also reported a 14 percent increase in aggravated robberies and a 16 percent increase in robberies.
“Defunding police is never the answer,” he said. “The state will not allow cities to defund police and descend into chaos and lawlessness.”
The next session of the Texas Legislature begins in January 2021.
PrintFriendly
