Taking the Wheel at the Comptroller’s Office Don Huffines Outlines a New Approach to Texas Tax Administration When Don Huffines took office as Texas comptroller on Aug. 1, he brought a background familiar to many in the Texas auto dealer community. A fifth-generation Texan, Huffines grew up in his family’s automobile business, beginning his career working at the family dealership for $2 an hour. His grandfather, J.L. Huffines, founded Huffines Motor Company in Denton in 1924, establishing a family legacy in the Texas automotive industry that continues today. That early experience in the dealership business was followed by a career in real estate development, public policy and state government. In 1985, Huffines founded Huffines Communities and grew the residential development company into one of the largest in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. The experience, he says, helped shape the private-sector perspective he now brings to state government. Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to fill the comptroller position after it was vacated, Huffines is seeking election to a full term in the November general election. As Texas’ chief financial officer, he oversees the state treasury and administers more than 100 taxes and fees, including the state’s motor vehicle sales and rental tax and sales taxes collected on behalf of local governments. For Texas dealers, the Comptroller’s Office is a particularly important part of the state government. The agency’s administration of motor vehicle taxes, sales taxes and other business taxes can directly impact dealerships’ day-to-day operations, making the new comptroller’s approach to tax administration worth close watch. Before becoming comptroller, Huffines served in the Texas Senate, where he developed a reputation as a strong advocate for taxpayers, government transparency, private property rights and limited government. He also became known for his efforts to uncover government waste and corruption. As a state senator, Huffines uncovered a corruption scheme at a Dallas-area government agency with a $100 million annual budget. His investigation led to the agency’s abolition and helped trigger a federal bribery investigation that resulted in multiple convictions and prison sentences. Fighting waste, fraud and abuse remains a stated priority as comptroller. That combination of private-sector experience, ties to the automotive business and focus on government efficiency provides context for one of Huffines’ first major initiatives as comptroller: the Taxpayer First Project, an effort to reform how Texas administers its tax laws. TAXPAYER FIRST PROJECT SEEKS TO REFORM TAX ADMINISTRATION One of Huffines’ most significant early initiatives is the Taxpayer First Project, a broad effort to change how the state administers its tax laws. Announced in August, the initiative calls for greater fairness, transparency and consistency in the Comptroller’s Office. Huffines has specifically cited concerns about retroactive policy changes, confusing or inconsistently applied rules, slow refunds and an administrative hearings process he considers too cumbersome. “Texans deserve fairness and transparency from their government,” Huffines said in announcing the initiative. “For too long, Texas businesses had to navigate unfair, retroactive policy DEALERS’ CHOICE 16
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