In El Paso we have the third highest property tax rates of the 50 largest cities in the United States. That puts us higher than any city in Texas.
We have the highest hotel-motel occupancy tax in the state. In fact the state passed legislation to put a cap on hotel-motel occupancy taxes when El Paso boosted ours. You might argue that local residents don’t pay this tax but the higher the tax is the more it discourages conventions from coming to El Paso and spending money.
Our sales tax rate is the highest allowed by the state. The state allows local areas to charge up to 2%. In our case one half of a percent goes to the county and one and one half percent goes to the city and its bus system.
Now it seems that some of the people down at city hall want to get permission to go over the 2% maximum.
This came from a KFOX news report the other day:
“But, how can (we) come up with going about a creative idea pushing something at the state Legislature to try and get an increase at the overall sales tax? That’s something we’ve talked about to the council over the last two years now,” said Robert Cortinas, interim director of municipal finance.
They published this quote from the mayor:
“Well, given that, the only alternative would be to go back to the governor and say, ‘Fine. Give another half cent on our sales tax revenue because in 1987, we determined it to go to the county,” Margo said.
Didn’t he promise to hold the line on tax increases?
Is there no end to their money grab?
We deserve better
Brutus
Posted by Brutus 
elpasospeak 
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