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Property tax reform will just be "corrected" with tax evaluations. The system is inherently corrupt.

Last year the local Appraisal Review Board ignored my public information act requests until the AG's office sent them a letter detailing the error in their ways, but they still refused to cough up the minutes I'd asked for.

I own property in an economically depressed area that can't be sold for more than a song. I'm not sure that's my best option, but I'm starting to think so.

My retirement savings, not extensive, are gone. I'm still struggling with last year's loan taken out against my life insurance. I figure I might have $8,000 saved up by tax time but I'm not sure how to dredge up the last $10,000. I could get a mortgage loan against a rent house, but there's maybe $2,000 in closing costs.

If I can see a way to have the money by May or so, I could pay the missing money with a credit card. High interest, no closing costs.

That's when I found out something interesting. Texas has a law against a vendor charging a surcharge for credit card transactions. I don't know if I agree with that, since the credit card brings extra fees, but I'm really uncomfortable with laws that don't apply to the government. The State is exempt from the law prohibiting surcharges. A 2.5% charge applies for putting taxes on a credit card, for those facing final options to struggle through.

Then a representative from the credit card processor involved told me the actual charge depends on what card is used, and that the rate probably peaks at 1.6%. That's anecdotal, though, a best guess, but it appears there may be more than cost recovery. There is no surcharge for paying with a check, or cash, or any method, even though all payment methods require labor.

So I called the tax assessor and asked for a copy of the contract with the credit card processor. Her answer was I would get that only with a formal request under the Texas Public Information Act, and only after it was reviewed by counsel. Contracts for government services, even if the contract stipulates secrecy, are public information. I have the request written, including the relevant sections from Government Code 552 (the Public Information Act).

Then she put me on hold, entertaining me with Lynyrd Skynyrd's "What's Your Name." A second session on hold kept my foot tapping with Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die."

I'm not sure the County pays ASCAP, but I think I'll find out. They've pushed my buttons long enough, and I think I'd like to see them held to the letter of the law. Any law. Just one. Something, anything, some sign I'm not the only one limited by society's rules.

There are many examples of corruption in Texas government. I was born, raised, and happy to live here, but the State ain't perfect.