Do these local governments ALSO get money from the state, even if it is supposedly "earmarked" for other purposes? I would bet they do. And if they do, then since money is fungible, the state DOES affect how much the local government charges for property tax, even though the state does not DIRECTLY control the local property tax rate.

Yes, but the big problem is the school boards. Even if you don't have kids, you are taxed by the school district. They jack up the property taxes the most. Since many parents pulled kids from public schools, enrollment is falling. Texas pays by numbers of students. So the school district should get less state money because fewer students. However, school districts are getting around this by using the trick discussed in this article. They're making up the difference by bleeding citizens dry through property taxes. They're laughing about it too as they give themselves raises.

If Texans want to lower their property taxes, they need to understand the real enemy is the school boards and town councils. Letting leftists have those places gives them total power over property taxes. They must be voted out if people want to stop the property tax hikes.

Which is exactly what has been happening. Texans are voting them out over CRT and mask mandates, but it also will save many on property taxes if true conservatives are brought in that don't jack up the taxes.