Abbott's Two-Thirds Tax Vote Proposal: What San Antonio Homeowners Need to Know

If you own a home in San Antonio, Helotes, Converse, Schertz, New Braunfels, or anywhere else in the greater San Antonio area, a proposal from Governor Greg Abbott could significantly change how much your local government can raise your property taxes—and how much say you have in that process.

Here is what Abbott has put on the table. He is proposing to cap local government spending growth at whichever is lower: population growth plus inflation, or 3.5 percent. Voters would have the ability to override that cap if they choose. More significantly, any property tax increase would require approval from two-thirds of voters—not a simple majority—to pass. On top of that, residents could petition for an election to cut tax rates if they gather signatures from at least 15 percent of registered voters in their jurisdiction.

That is a meaningful shift from how things work today, and it touches nearly every corner of the real estate market.

For homeowners, the most direct impact would be on your annual property tax bill. San Antonio homeowners have watched their tax bills climb steadily in recent years as property values have risen and local governments have set their budgets. Under this proposal, local taxing entities—including Bexar County, the City of San Antonio, and school districts like Northside ISD, North East ISD, San Antonio ISD, Judson ISD, and Comal ISD—would face a higher bar to increase the tax rate. Getting two-thirds of voters to approve a tax hike is a considerably tougher task than a simple majority vote, which could put real downward pressure on how aggressively local governments pursue rate increases.

For families in neighborhoods like Stone Oak, Alamo Ranch, Bulverde, and Boerne, where rapid growth has brought new infrastructure demands, this creates an interesting tension. Growing communities often need new roads, parks, emergency services, and school facilities. If local governments cannot as easily raise revenues through property taxes, they may have to find other funding sources, trim budgets, or make a very compelling case to voters to clear that two-thirds threshold. Whether you see that as protection for your wallet or a constraint on your community depends a great deal on your own priorities.

The petition mechanism is worth paying attention to as well. Giving residents the ability to trigger a rate-cutting election with signatures from 15 percent of registered voters hands a real tool to organized homeowner groups and neighborhood associations. In a city as large and politically engaged as San Antonio, that is not a theoretical possibility—it is something that motivated residents could realistically pursue.

If you are buying a home right now, this proposal is worth keeping in the back of your mind as you compare communities. Property taxes are a significant part of your monthly housing cost, especially in Texas where there is no state income tax. Homes in ZIP codes like 78258 in Stone Oak, 78245 in Alamo Ranch, or 78130 in New Braunfels carry tax bills that vary not just by value but by which taxing entities overlap that address. If this proposal becomes law and local governments become more constrained, the differences in tax burden across communities could stabilize or even narrow over time.

For renters, the picture is a little less direct but still relevant. Landlords factor property taxes into what they charge for rent. If tax growth slows, that does not guarantee rent relief—landlords respond to market conditions in complex ways—but it does remove one upward cost pressure that owners often pass along to tenants.

For sellers, stable or slower-growing tax bills can make a home more attractive to buyers who are already dealing with higher mortgage rates. When a buyer is calculating what they can afford each month, a lower tax bill can be the difference between qualifying and not qualifying, or between choosing your listing over another.

It is important to note that as of today, December 11, 2025, this is a proposal. It has not become law. The Texas Legislature would need to act on it, and the details could change through the legislative process. Nothing here is a guarantee of what your tax bill will look like next year.

What is clear is that property taxes remain one of the most consequential financial realities for anyone who owns real estate in the San Antonio area. This proposal reflects a broader conversation happening across Texas about the balance between local government funding needs and the burden placed on property owners. Watching how it develops through the coming legislative session will matter to your bottom line.

If you have questions about how property taxes factor into buying or selling a home in San Antonio, our team at 5 Star Real Estate is here to help you think through the full picture.