Judge Dismisses City of Austin’s Lawsuit
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today released the following statement after a judge dismissed the City of Austin’s lawsuit against the Travis Appraisal Review Board challenging state tax policy:
“This ruling is a victory for the taxpayers of Texas. The City of Austin’s attempt to rewrite Texas law was beyond the scope of their authority and put all property owners in the state at risk of higher taxes. We are pleased the judge ultimately dismissed this lawsuit, giving Texans a voice against unlawful efforts to increase tax revenue without input from lawmakers or taxpayers.”
The lawsuit dismissed today was filed by the City of Austin against the Travis Appraisal Review Board, appealing what it characterized as an “undervaluation” of certain commercial properties. The city also sought to void Texas tax law and policy, challenging the constitutionality of the state’s tax appraisal system.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office intervened on behalf of the State of Texas on October 29, after the district court barred Texas homeowners from intervening in the lawsuit.