FORT WORTH, TX — Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he and top Texas leaders will push for legislation that would freeze property tax revenues for cities that cut police budgets.
Governor Abbott was joined by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen at the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex Administration in Fort Worth, TX.
Abbott railed against the City of Austin for "defunding" the Austin Police Department during a time of rising crime.
Abbott announced a legislative proposal that would discourage defunding police departments.
"The way this proposal works is this...any city that defunds police departments will have its property tax revenue frozen at the current level," Gov. Abbott said. "They will never be able to increase property tax revenue."
"Cities that endanger residents by reducing law enforcement should not then be able to turn around and go back and get more property tax dollars from those same residents whose lives the city just endangered."
Lt. Dan Patrick said the Austin Police Department came to the city's defense during protests in May.
He said what happened in Austin should not happen in any other city in Texas.
House Speaker Dennis Bonnen said the Texas House would support the proposed legislation.
