Taylor on the Issues
Message from Taylor about Technology and Power Projects
I’ve been vocal about data centers, the proposed SpaceX semiconductor facility, tax abatements, and other large-scale industrial projects that could have lasting impacts on our water resources, agriculture, infrastructure, and quality of life.
From the beginning, my concern has never been growth itself. My concern has been whether that growth is being managed responsibly and whether the people of Grimes County are receiving a fair deal in return.
A 100% tax abatement raises legitimate questions. When a project of this scale comes into a community, residents have every right to ask what benefits are being guaranteed, what costs may be shifted onto taxpayers, and how our natural resources will be protected for future generations.
That said, the decision has been made.
Our focus now must be on ensuring Grimes County receives the benefits it deserves while protecting the people who already call this county home. That means demanding transparency, accountability, responsible water management, infrastructure planning, environmental safeguards, and meaningful economic opportunities for local residents.
Economic growth should not happen to us, it should work for us.
The success of this project should not be measured solely by dollars invested, but by whether it strengthens our communities, protects our resources, and improves the lives of the people who are already here.
I will continue advocating for responsible development, transparency, and policies that put Grimes County residents first..
Property Taxes
In Texas, counties are required by state law to levy property taxes to fund essential services like roads and bridges, law enforcement and jails, courts, emergency services, elections, and public records. A County Commissioner cannot simply vote to eliminate property taxes. That authority doesn’t exist at the local level. What does exist is responsibility over how the system is managed.
Property taxes have three key parts:
• Tax rate – what the Commissioners Court votes on directly
• Tax base – the total value of all taxable property in the county
• Spending discipline – decisions that reduce or increase future tax pressure
Real taxpayer relief comes from expanding the tax base, not raising rates. The tax base grows when the county adds new taxable value, not by increasing the burden on existing landowners. That includes job-creating businesses, value-added agriculture, processing and logistics, and professional services enabled by broadband projects that pay more in taxes than they cost in services.
When the tax base grows, the same tax rate can fund roads, public safety, and infrastructure without raising taxes on homeowners and ranchers.
While commissioners don’t control individual appraisals, they do influence tax base growth through smart planning such as where roads are improved, whether broadband is expanded, and which projects receive county cooperation. Disciplined counties focus on value growth, not large projects that strain roads and emergency services faster than they pay for themselves.
Expanding the tax base is not being “pro–property tax.” It’s about spreading the cost of government across a broader, healthier base so no single group carries an increasing burden. Counties that fail to plan ahead eventually face only bad choices: raise rates, cut services, or defer maintenance until costs rise even higher.
Contact
Reach out to support Taylor's campaign today.
taylorperry4texas@outlook.com
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