Private Property Rights. 3 Points informed:intel Billboard Fees.

The Texas Supreme Court this week refused to take an appeal on the City of Austin billboard fee.

Lawyers, courts- their words are like teachers in a Peanuts cartoon. What does this mean?

• The Court of Appeals opinion declaring Austin’s billboard fees unconstitutional stands.
• Why is the fee unconstitutional?
  • The city can charge taxes up to 50% of what the state imposes.
  • What kind of billboard fee does the state have? None.
  • 1/2 x 0 = 0. Austin can impose a total fee of 0 under this rational.
• Is the billboard fee actually a fee or is it a tax? An earlier court decided that the fee was indeed a local tax, and here we are. 

Statesman | Texas Supreme Court declines to revive Austin’s billboard fee