Texas Supreme Court Orders Election on Tax Reduction for Travis County ESD#2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Pflugerville, TX – May 24, 2024 – In a significant victory for taxpayers, the Texas Supreme Court has ordered the board of Travis County Emergency Services District #2 (ESD#2) to proceed with a tax-reduction election following a petition by concerned residents. Pflugerville Residents for Responsible Taxation submitted a petition calling for a tax-reduction election asserting that the current ESD#2 sales tax rate is inefficiently managed and that the City of Pflugerville could provide superior services. Despite the submission, the unelected ESD#2 Board initially refused to verify the signatures or call the election citing “legally insufficient” wording of the petition proposition.
Today, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the ESD#2 Board must determine the sufficiency of the petition signatures and proceed to call the election. The Court clarified that while the Board can decide on the appropriate ballot language, it cannot refuse to call the election. According to Bill Aleshire, attorney for the plaintiffs, “This ruling reinforces the taxpayers’ right to petition their government and sets a strong precedent for future cases.”
Pflugerville Residents for Responsible Taxation (PfRRT) is a local non-partisan group of concerned citizens. Our goal is to research and share facts regarding new taxes and proposed increases that impact our city and its residents.