Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced on Monday the formation of a new City Council committee to fight for property tax relief at the state level.
The move came shortly after the Texas Legislature announced the two chambers had agreed on how to address the contentious property tax relief issue.
Johnson sent a memo to council members formally announcing the formation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs. The memo was provided to The Dallas Express by Mayor Johnson’s chief of policy and communications, Maddy Madrazo.
“Providing meaningful property tax relief for Dallas residents is one of my top three priorities as we look to build for Dallas’ future,” the document reads. “Without it, residents may choose or be forced to forgo the opportunity to live and work in our great city.”
Johnson appointed Council Member Cara Mendelsohn as chair of the committee. She will serve alongside Council Members Tennell Atkins, Omar Narvaez, Zarin Gracey, and Kathy Stewart. The latter two are serving their first term on the council, having been inaugurated last month.
Mendelsohn thanked Johnson for the appointment in a statement she posted on Twitter.
“I speak about responsible spending and taxation often at council [meetings],” she said. “On behalf of Dallas residents, I am happy to advocate the biggest tax relief bill in Texas history.”
House Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced on Monday that the two chambers of the Texas Legislature had reached “an agreement on proposed legislation that will deliver the biggest property tax cut in Texas history,” as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Johnson said in the memo that it is “essential” for the City of Dallas to “actively engage in ongoing discussions about this bill in Austin and demonstrate our full support.”
“I expect this committee’s work to commence immediately and urge its members to take advantage of any available opportunities to advocate fervently for the passage of this property tax relief bill, which could include providing public testimony at the Texas State Capitol,” he continued. “This bill complements our local efforts to further alleviate Dallas residents’ property tax burdens.”
The committee’s formation came the same day Johnson withdrew his protest of the Dallas Central Appraisal District’s (DCAD) valuation of his home, as reported by The Dallas Morning News.
A DCAD panel was scheduled to review Johnson’s appeal on Monday, but the property tax consulting firm representing Johnson, the Toler Company, rescinded the challenge.
“The property tax agent agreed to leave the value as is and waived their right to an [Appraisal Review Board] hearing,” said DCAD Director of Community Relations Cheryl Jordan, per DMN. She told DMN she was unaware of why the appeal was dropped but said Johnson still has 60 days to challenge his appraisal via arbitration or a lawsuit.
Last week, Johnson filed a protest to the appraised $1.6 million value of his home, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
“Yes, the news is true,” he said in his Sunday newsletter. “I protested the appraised value of my home, and you should consider doing the same.”
Based on the current appraisal, Johnson would be required to pay roughly $33,000 in property taxes.
