Free Republic

Bill boosts sales tax to reduce levy on property Measure panel OK'd would raise local sales tax to 9.2%, cut property taxes by one-third By CLAY ROBISON and JANET ELLIOTT Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau AUSTIN — Texas would have the highest state sales tax in the country, businesses would pay a payroll tax and smokers would pay a dollar more for cigarettes in exchange for a cut in school property taxes under a bill approved Wednesday by a House committee. The measure, which also includes new taxes on bottled water, auto repair services and car washes, would raise...