The Texas House passed a bill on the third try Tuesday that would safeguard property tax cuts by limiting the amount of revenue local governments can take in without voter approval.

"This bill will protect taxpayers. It will make homeownership more affordable. It will create greater transparency and clarity in government at both the local and state level," said Rep. Carl Isett, a Lubbock Republican who sponsored the bill, a major part of Gov. Rick Perry's tax reform plan.

Isett's "truth in taxation" proposal struck out twice in the last two weeks, and passage required some concessions.

The 80-65 vote Tuesday was a victory for Perry, who has promised tax reform for more than a year.

Opponents say Isett's 5-percent cap on annual revenue increases would hamstring the ability of local officials to generate money for services such as police and fire protection.

They also claim it does not account for unique budget challenges in each of the state's 254 counties and more than 1,200 cities.

The bill would cap revenue increases at 5 percent and require a voter petition if the increase goes beyond that.

The petition would have to include signatures of at least 10 percent of those who voted in the previous gubernatorial election.

Under current law, voters can petition for a rollback of city or county tax rates after an 8-percent increase in local tax revenue.

TEXAS LEGISLATURE

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CENTRAL TEXAS STATE SENATORS:

Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor
(State Sen. District 22 includes: Bosque, Coryell, Ellis, Falls, Hill, Hood, Johnson, McLennan, Navarro, Somervell Counties)
Click Here For Averitt Senate Web Site

Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay
(State Sen. District 24 includes: Bell, Blanco, Brown, Burnet, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Gillespie, Hamilton, Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas, Llano, McCulloch, Mason, Menard, Mills, San Saba, Taylor Counties)
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Sen. Steve Odgen, R-Bryan
(State Sen. District 5 includes: Brazos, Burleson, Freestone, Grimes, Houston, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Robertson, Trinity, Walker, Williamson Counties)
Click Here For Ogden Senate Web Site

CENTRAL TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana
(State Rep. District 8 includes: Anderson, Freestone, Limestone, Navarro Counties)
Click Here For Cook House Web Site

State Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie
(State Rep. District 10 includes: Hill, Ellis Counties)
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State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown
(State Rep. District 20 includes: Milam, Williamson-part, Counties)
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State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville
(State Rep. District 53 includes: Callahan, Coleman, Concho, Crockett, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, McCulloch, Mason, Menard, Real, Runnels, San Saba, Schleicher, Sutton Counties)
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Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Lampasas
(State Rep. District 54 includes: Bell-part, Burnet, Lampasas Counties)
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Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple
(State Rep. District 55 includes: Bell-part County)
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Rep. Charles Anderson, R-Waco
(State Rep. District 56 includes: McLennan-part County)
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Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco
(State Rep. District 57 includes: Falls, Leon, McLennan-part, Madison, Robertson Counties)
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Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson
(State Rep. District 58 includes: Bosque, Johnson Counties)
Click Here For Orr House Web Site

Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville
(State Rep. District 59 includes: Comanche, Coryell, Erath, Hamilton, Mills, Somervell Counties)
Click Here For Miller House Web Site