Civic Insights with David Billings
As Texas heads into interim committee hearings ahead of the 89th Legislative Session, advocacy groups are already drawing lines for the 90th Legislature. The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) has released its Liberty Action Program, calling for meaningful property tax reductions. Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) goes further, advocating for the complete elimination of property taxes.
That contrast raises a serious question Texans should not avoid: Are property taxes simply a burden or are they an investment?
Let’s start with common ground. Nobody enjoys opening a property tax bill. I don’t. Texans work hard, live within their means, and expect government to do the same. Every dollar government spends is a dollar families cannot spend on groceries, savings, school supplies, movies, fun trips, or investing in their future.
Being Texan means opposing waste, inefficiency, and the idea that government always deserves more. But conservatism is not synonymous with neglect. Fiscal responsibility also means stewardship protecting what taxpayers have already built.
In Rockwall County, cities and the county collectively budget approximately $151.2 million in General Fund spending. That fund is supported primarily by property taxes, along with sales taxes and fees pays for the basic functions of local government. These are not optional programs or wish lists. They are the day-to-day operations that keep communities functioning.
Of that total, roughly $78.9 million comes from property taxes. Spread across a population of about 146,000 that equals an average of $45 per month per resident. Yes, some households pay more. But whether the property tax bill is $45, $75, or $100 a month, the core question remains the same:
What do taxpayers get in return?
When spent with discipline, property taxes fund the fundamentals people expect government to handle competently: public safety, roads, water and sewer systems, drainage, and core city services. These aren’t abstract benefits. They directly affect safety, home values, economic growth, and quality of life.
Every homeowner understands this principle. Skip routine maintenance on your roof, your HVAC system, or your car, and the bill eventually gets much larger. Delaying responsibility does not save money it guarantees higher costs later.
Local government works the same way.
Deferred street maintenance turns into expensive road reconstruction. Understaffed police, fire, and EMS departments mean slower response times and higher crime. Ignored storm water run-off leads to flooding and property damage. Poor infrastructure planning creates congestion, long commute to work, and lost economic opportunities. The bill always comes due just later, and at a higher price.
A Texans approach is not “do nothing.” It’s do what matters, do it efficiently, and do it on purpose.
Rockwall County is fortunate to be in one of the strongest economic regions in the country. The DFW Metroplex is a robust growth engine, but that advantage is not permanent. Families and employers have choices. Communities compete. Prosperity goes where infrastructure works, where cities are safe, and local government is predictable.
That’s where property taxes come in not as a blank check, but as the funding mechanism for core services that make private-sector growth possible. Think of local government like the foundation under a house. You don’t admire it every day, but if it cracks, everything above it suffers.
This isn’t about ideology. It’s about the basics. And getting the basics right determines whether local communities succeed or fail.
If property taxes are an investment, then they must perform like one. That means transparent budgets, measurable outcomes, clear project scopes, cost controls, and public accountability. No vague promises. No “trust us.” Texans are right to demand results.
But the goal should not be reduced to a slogan of “pay less.” The goal is to live in communities that are safe, functional, competitive, and built to last.
Rockwall County families already invest every day in their homes, families, small businesses, and the sacrifices required to build a good life.
The real question is whether is $45, $75, or $100 per month is a reasonable investment in safe cities, protecting our kids, clean water, safe and well- maintained roads, timely emergency response, rising property values, and long-term economic growth?
About the Author
David Billings, former Mayor of Fate, has served the community for over a decade. A longtime business leader in the telecommunication industry, Navy veteran, and resident of Rockwall County, he brings both professional and civic experience to his writing on government, budgeting, and local economics. He is a graduate of Leadership Rockwall, North Texas Commission Leadership Program, active in several Rockwall County non-profits boards, and the American Legion.
He is passionate about civic involvement in local government, maintaining transparent governance and thoughtful strategic planning to preserve a bright future for the regions.
