More than 200 homeowners met with Texas lawmakers Monday in Plano to seek relief from surging property taxes.
Property tax statements will be mailed out this month, and the Texas Senate Property Tax Reform and Relief Committee is traveling around the state to hear public testimony.
"I'm being priced out. In fact, I'm looking to move else where," said Lucas homeowner Debbie Fisher.
Fisher, a Lucas councilwoman, testified that she and her husband bought a home in 1994 for $150,000. She told lawmakers its assessed value has risen to $315,000.
"Our home is paid for, but it feels like we're renting from the tax entities to be able to pay for our taxes," Fisher said. "He (Fisher's husband) could work longer. We decided that's not what we wanted to do. It may come to the point where we have to leave."
Fisher believes her property tax statement will rise more $800 based on her home's assessed value.
"It puts us in a tight squeeze," she said.
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State Sen. Van Taylor, R- Plano, told NBC 5 property tax reform could come as early as next year.
"We need to slow the rate of growth of property taxes and we need to reform the system," said Taylor. "We need to make to it a more transparent and fair system. We're working on a variety of different ideas to make that happen."
Taylor, along with the senators on the Senate Property Tax Reform and Relief Committee, is hearing ideas on how to improve the system, including the way homes are assessed.
Taylor said the Senate committee will introduce legislation when the Texas Legislature convenes in January. He's optimistic reform could happen as early as next year.
"Property tax burden is growing two-and-a-half times faster than people's incomes over the last decade. That's unsustainable," said Taylor.
