Mayor Herring, don’t increase taxes & contribute to the hopelessness of America’s youth

by | Sep 7, 2025 | Community News, Uncategorized

Since so many of you are asking to see the email exchange between LIA and the Mayor of Kerrville, we decided to post it so you can see it for yourself. The second email (our response to Mayor Herring’s first email back to us) copied the Governor’s Chief of Staff, his Senior Policy Director, and the Lt Governor’s Chief of Staff.  We felt it was important for the Governor and Lt Governor to see the tone and demeanor of Mayor Herring toward citizens speaking out against exploiting the disaster loophole and maxing out revenues to calculate city property taxes all the way to 8%, AFTER the Governor urged local elected officials not to do so.

Mayor Herring’s second reply speaks volumes about his character, especially when juxtaposed to his Facebook post accusing us of calling names and being childish and immature.

Judge for yourself.

Initial email sent to the Mayor & Council

From: Govt Overreach
Sent: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 11:50 AM
To: Joe Herring; Delayne Sigerman, Jeff Harris; Kent McKinney; Brenda Hughes
Subject: Don’t increase taxes & contribute to the hopelessness of America’s youth

Mayor and city council members,

The number one concern for those under 40 years old is housing affordability. In fact, our young people can scarcely afford anything to live independent lives. So that’s why the property tax rate is so critical to a sustainable workforce and their ability to live in Kerrville and raise a family here. This article from my good friend Tom DeWeese with the American Policy Center summarizes these critical issues well. It’s a good read. I hope you’ll take it to heart. The county voted to not raise taxes beyond the no new revenue rate, but there’s much more work that needs to be done to actually LOWER the tax rate, the overall cost of living, and buying a home here.

Governor Abbott finally weighed in on this (listening to our pleas for help) and unequivocally stated our local governments here SHOULD NOT BE RAISING PROPERTY TAXES post-flood, period (watch Abbott’s interview here), much less exploiting the disaster loophole to raise the revenue growth rate all the way to the max of 8%. He cites the state resources being given to help ensure our citizens aren’t punished any further after such a disaster. We need these young workers to rebuild all that’s been lost in this flood. Let’s do all we can to make living affordable again. 

—Terri Hall
______________________
We the People – Liberty In Action
Government Overreach Focus Group

Incl:  American Policy Center article by Tom DeWeese

Reply from Mayor Herring

From: Joe Herring
Sent: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 12:43 PM
To: Terri Hall (Government Overreach)
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Don’t increase taxes & contribute to the hopelessness of America’s youth

I enjoyed Commissioner Harris’s conversation with you at a recent commissioners court meeting. I’ve watched it several times, and forwarded it to my friends. It was delightful!

I certainly agree with your right to voice your opinion and your freedom of speech — but I can’t remember a single thing you’ve ever said I agree with. In this message you talk about city property taxes and those under 40 years old. I’m not going to guess your age, but do you actually own property with the city limits of Kerrville?

I’m not sure who you think you are representing. Could you explain this to me?

All the best,

Joe Herring Jr.

Response to Mayor Herring

From: Govt Overreach Sent: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 10:43 PM To: Joe Herring Cc: Robert Black; Tabatha Vasquez; Steve Munisteri; Darrell Davila Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Mayor Herring, don’t increase taxes & contribute to the hopelessness of America’s youth Mayor Herring, Liberty in Action is comprised of residents throughout the city of Kerrville as well as unincorporated Kerr County. We are the voice for many residents whose lives have been upended by this flood and have already spoken up – so much so that they have gotten the Governor’s attention (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQGlK4uXyFs). All Texas cities operate as political subdivisions of the STATE. The leader of our STATE government, Governor Abbott, has asked you NOT to raise taxes on your residents. With SB 10 that addresses property tax caps in conference committee as we speak, it would seem you’d have more respect for the state government that currently is the hand that feeds you by picking up the cost of debris removal and rescue operations. If the state chose to yank your disaster aid because you refuse to listen to them and YOUR residents and NOT raise taxes, you’d likely go bankrupt. So perhaps a little humility and self-awareness is in order. —Terri Hall P.S – My age nor the location of my residence is the point of our email. Fighting to protect our fellow citizens and flood survivors from their own government is the point. This is Kerrville, and its government ought to be run BY THE POEPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, not by the government, for the government. ______________________ We the People – Liberty In Action Government Overreach Focus Group

Mayor Herring's second reply

From: Joe Herring
Sent: Tuesday, September 3, 2025 8:37 AM
To: Govt Overreach
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Mayor Herring, don’t increase taxes & contribute to the hopelessness of America’s youth

Thanks for your kind email. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views with me.

I noticed you failed to answer my concerns. Given that you don’t pay city property taxes, I wonder who you claim to represent. In the last municipal election, the candidates you supported were soundly defeated. One could infer your views and approach to local politics lack the support of a majority of city voters. It’s odd that a person who doesn’t live in the city, whose political views have been repeatedly soundly rejected by the voters of Kerrville, and whose sources of funding are said to be questionable, continues to claim to represent the POEPLE. (

Mayor Herring slanders us on Facebook where he controls every post and comment - only approving comments that support his false narrative...