Reforming Property Taxes Due to COVID-19’s New Reality
The novel coronavirus has upended Texans’ lives and the state’s economy. We do not yet know what “normal” life will look like when this public
Dick Lavine
July 8, 2020
Dick Lavine, Senior Fiscal Analyst
Dick Lavine focuses on building state and local revenue systems that meet Texans’ needs. Before coming to Every Texan in 1994, he was a Senior Researcher at the House Research Organization of the Texas House of Representatives for ten years. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Trustee of the City of Austin Employees Retirement System. He served for many years as a member and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Travis Central Appraisal District. He is also a member of the Executive Board of AFSCME Texas Retirees, the statewide union local of retired public employees, and the Board of Directors of Progress Texas Institute, a progressive media organization. The Equity Center named him as a Champion for Equity for his work to reform our tax system to ensure it can adequately support public education and other public services. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, magna cum laude, from Harvard College in 1969, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania in 1975.
Dick's Recent Work
Checking in on State Revenue
Making sure every Texan has the tools they need to come through this health and economic crisis must be the top priority of state lawmakers
Dick Lavine
June 11, 2020
COVID-19 and the Economy: Options for Raising State Revenue in Texas
The COVID-19-induced crisis is reducing state revenue, while at the same time increasing the demand for public services. The final impact on Texans and the
Dick Lavine
May 14, 2020
COVID-19 Hits the Texas Economy
The COVID-19 outbreak has reminded us that any one person’s well-being depends on everyone else’s. Texans must work together to help those bearing a disproportionate brunt of
Dick Lavine
March 25, 2020
Don’t Tie Future Texans’ Hands with Short-Sighted Ballot Proposal
Texans are about to start hearing more about a state income tax. Here’s why. During the most recent state legislative session in Austin, lawmakers passed
Dick Lavine
July 19, 2019
Raising the sales tax to pay for property tax cuts doesn’t pay for most Texas families
In early April, Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick and Speaker Bonnen announced that they will support a proposal to raise sales taxes to limit property
Dick Lavine
April 16, 2019
Don’t Punish Schools or Low-Income Texans in the Name of Property Taxes
Educating 5.4 million Texas public school students is a critically important responsibility. All of us benefit directly or indirectly from public education, and it’s our
Dick Lavine
April 8, 2019
Wasteful School Property Tax Breaks Cost Texas Billions
Lawmakers Should Not Renew Tax Giveaways without Proper Review A gigantic program that lets companies get out of paying most school property taxes is scheduled
Dick Lavine
March 22, 2019
Why SB 2 & HB 2 Are the Wrong Approach to the Property Tax Puzzle
The Texas Senate may soon vote on SB 2, a misguided proposal that would limit the ability of cities and counties to decide how much
Dick Lavine
February 14, 2019
The Staggering Unfairness of our State Tax System
We hear plenty from elected leaders about Texas being a “low-tax state,” but we are actually a high-tax state for many families. By setting up
Dick Lavine
October 19, 2018