Gov Abbott says he wants to lower property taxes and Democrats want to raise them in a recent ad. 1. Abbott says this is a problem 43 days before the election when he has been Governor for the last 12 years. 2. Local governments have dozens of unfunded mandates from the State which if funded could reduce property taxes. 3. The State could make a larger contribution to funding public schools this would significantly lower property taxes. 4. Reducing local property taxes affects police and fire and other essential services.