Taxing Entities Target Gas, Electric Bills

January 11, 2010 Archive

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) _ A new state law gives dozens of Texas cities the option of an additional sales tax on home gas and electric bills through crime and fire control districts.

The increases are small, topping out at 50 cents for every $100 of a bill. But Texas Gov. Rick Perry expressed concern about the measure when it became law without his signature in June.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that a handful of Texas cities — many in northern Texas — have created taxing districts to support police and fire services in the past 15 years. But state sales taxes couldn’t be included until the recent change in the law.

The state comptroller says all but nine of the 32 districts eligible to assess the tax are in Tarrant County.

More News