Democrat gubernatorial candidate Valdez owes $12K in overdue property taxes

Gubernatorial candidate and former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez speaks after her runoff win at a democratic party celebration at Ellen's in Dallas on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. Today's primary runoff election will decide whether Valdez or Andrew White will be the democratic candidate for Texas governor on the ballot in November. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News) less Gubernatorial candidate and former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez speaks after her runoff win at a democratic party celebration at Ellen's in Dallas on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. Today's primary runoff election ... more Photo: Ashley Landis, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS / Staff Photographer Photo: Ashley Landis, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS / Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Democrat gubernatorial candidate Valdez owes $12K in overdue property taxes 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — Democratic gubernatorial nominee Lupe Valdez, who has campaigned to close loopholes in the state's broken property-tax system, owes more than $12,000 in overdue taxes on seven properties in two counties, official records showed Thursday.

In addition, Valdez provided incorrect details on her official financial-disclosure report : A Dallas property that she owns is not listed, and two companies listed on the filing have incorrect names on the form. Her campaign attributes those mistakes to typos.

Valdez's campaign officials acknowledged that she owes taxes on several properties, but said she is paying them in monthly installments because she cannot afford to pay the total amounts, which were due at the end of January.

In a statement, she blamed Republican incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott for the fact that Texas property taxes are so high.

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"As we've been saying all along, under Greg Abbott's failed leadership, property taxes are unpredictable and burdensome for Texans everywhere, including Sheriff Lupe Valdez," said campaign spokesman Juan Bautista Dominguez. "Sheriff Valdez has an agreement with the counties to payoff 2017 property taxes and plans to do so entirely in the coming months."

Dallas tax officials said while they show no agreement on file, Valdez could be paying the taxes late along with penalties and interest — which records show are included in the amounts she owes.

Online property tax records show Valdez personally owns or has an interest in 15 properties — including her two-story Oak Cliff homestead and several other houses along with several vacant lots — and has not fully paid taxes on six in Dallas County and one in Ellis County.

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Tax collection officials in both counties verified the online information on Thursday. Records show Valdez has been making monthly incremental payments — ranging from $100 to $500 — toward the overdue bills. The other seven properties have no delinquent taxes listed.

Tax officials said the overdue bills, if not paid by July, will be certified as officially delinquent and will go to a collection agency.