AUSTIN – Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick today released the following statement after a judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging state tax policy:

“Today’s decision by a District Judge to dismiss the City of Austin’s lawsuit against the Travis County Appraisal Review Board is a victory for all taxpayers. Courtrooms are not the proper venue for tax policy to be created or modified.

“This is one of the very reasons I appointed a Select Committee on Property Tax Reform and Relief , which was announced yesterday.

“I am confident the Senate appointees will be able to examine issues such as the alleged ‘undervaluation’ of certain commercial properties. They will be able to better determine the fairness, or equity issue, in which was the basis of this lawsuit.”