The following presentation is a basic outline for discussing the importance of local decision-making and the threat of state preemption. It is expected that many cities will want to customize the design and the content of the presentation to meet their local situation and needs. This presentation includes several suggestions for localizing it. For example, the name of your city could be included in the “Our home” logo or the city’s logo could be added to each slide. Also, all of the photos and headlines could be replaced with local ones. If you have any questions about the sources for the information or data included in the presentation, we will be glad to provide those sources. (Note: some of the animations in the slide show will play automatically but most of them are activated by mouse clicks.)

Local Decisions have created Texas cities where people want to

Local Decisions have created Texas cities where people want to Live

Local Decisions Live Work have created Texas cities where people want to Live Work

Local Decisions Live Work Do business have created Texas cities where people want to Live Work Do business

Fastest Growing Cities in U.S. #1 Frisco, TX #5 Midland, TX #6 McKinney, TX #9 Austin, TX Year after year, Texas cities rank among the top cities in the nation for job creation, population growth and best management. Most Efficient Public Spending #5 Houston, TX #7 Dallas, TX #14 El Paso, TX #16 Austin, TX #20 Lubbock, TX Best Places to Start a Business #2 Austin, TX #18 Laredo, TX #20 Fort Worth, TX

Localize: You may want to replace the city rankings in the preceding slide with any rankings in which your city is included.

Texas cities lead the nation because they provide the services and infrastructure businesses need and the quality of life people want.

Localize: You may want to insert here any examples of local infrastructure projects that have helped attract jobs and any city services/amenities/attractions that contribute to the quality of life in your city.

Instead of celebrating the amazing successes of Texas cities, some state officials are telling the world that Texas cities are bad places to do business.

The ability of Texans to create vibrant, livable cities is under assault from state officials who want to dictate that every community and neighborhood conform to their agenda.

The greatest threat now: State officials want to put one-size-fits-all restrictions on the annual budgets of all cities and counties.

Localize: You may want to insert a slide here providing examples of city spending cuts, if any, that would have to be made in the city’s current budget if the 2.5% revenue cap proposed by the governor had been in effect.

Some state officials are trying to mislead Texans into believing cities are to blame for high property taxes. But here’s the truth: Cities only collect 16 % of property taxes.

Look at your tax bill. Across the state, school district taxes are about 3.5 times higher than city taxes.

Localize: You may want to insert here a comparison of city taxes versus school district taxes on a median priced home in your city with a photo or reproduction of an actual local tax bill.

Texas property taxes are high because the legislature has been cutting the state’s share of funding for education. This forces school districts to raise your local property taxes to make up the difference.

Senate Bill 1 – General Appropriations Bill FY 2018 – FY 2019 In 2017, the Legislature adopted a state budget that is based on our school property taxes increasing by 14% over two years.

Localize: If there is a school district in your city that is subject to state recapture, you may want to insert a slide here showing how much local property tax the school district is required to send to the state and how much lower the school district taxes would be without recapture.

Instead of blaming cities, the state can provide meaningful property tax relief by fixing the school finance system.

We need to tell the real story: Letting Texans decide at the local level what’s best for their community is the foundation of the Texas Miracle.

Local decision-making gives Texans a voice:

Local decision-making gives Texans a voice: In the level of services they want and how to pay for them.

Localize: In this slide and the two that follow, you may want to replace the word “Texans” in the headline with the name you use for residents of your city. Also, you may want to insert a slide here about opportunities for citizen input in your city’s budget process.

Local decision-making gives Texans a voice: In how much they want to invest in infrastructure improvements like roads, new police and fire stations, water and sewage treatment and recreation facilities.

Localize: You may want to insert a slide here about local capital improvement projects and bond elections and how citizens provide input for those local decisions.

Local decision-making gives Texans a voice: In rules and regulations that protect their home values and the character of their neighborhoods.

Localize: You may want to insert a slide here about local ordinances and/or zoning that protect home values in residential neighborhoods or protect the health and safety of citizens.

Texans want the decisions that affect their homes and neighborhoods to reflect our local priorities and values.

Localize: You may want to insert a slide here with examples of specific local ordinances that were adopted in response to input and concerns from city residents. These decisions should not be overridden by the state legislature.

It’s your home. It’s your neighborhood. It’s your community. You and your neighbors should decide what’s best for your community.