The Harris County Commissioners Court is moving forward with a 7.6% property tax rate increase compared with last year, marking one of the largest tax hikes in the county’s recent history.
The overview
The court approved a tax rate of about $0.67 per $100 in taxable property value in a 3-2 vote during its Sept. 8 meeting. County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Precinct 4 Commissioner Tom Ramsey opposed the rate recommended by the county’s Office of Management and Budget.
The increase will add about $193 to the average homeowner’s property tax bill, OMB Director Daniel Ramos said.
Commissioners court sets tax rates for the county’s general fund, the Harris County Flood Control District, the Port of Houston Authority and Harris Health. All were approved for increased tax rates compared with last year’s adopted rate, according to an agenda document.
The court discussed Harris Health’s request to increase its tax rate to match last year’s revenue number, plus an additional $20 million. Ramos said $10 million will go toward supporting Harris Health’s public health functions, and the rest will be unallocated with the potential to establish a grant program.
What they’re saying
Ramsey, who unsuccessfully proposed keeping the tax rates flat, said affordability is the key consideration with the budget and tax rates.
“I really think we need to continue to take a statutory review of what we do, understanding we are required by law to do certain things and we’re not required to do other things,” Ramsey said. “Doesn’t mean those other things are bad, but we need to pay attention.”
Commissioners Lesley Briones and Rodney Ellis, who proposed separate investments in community safety and worker programs, had both requests added to the proposed budget.
An hour before the Sept. 8 meeting, Briones announced her request for $1.4 million for county worker programs and raising the minimum wage for employees at the Harris Center, which provides mental health and developmental needs services.
Ellis announced his request for $4.5 million to expand funding for community safety programs and strategies Sept. 1.
Ellis, who motioned to approve OMB’s recommended rate, said voters “have gotten a lot out of the budgets that I’ve been able to vote on” since he took office in 2017. He added that of the nearly 150 public speakers at the meeting, none asked for cuts to programs they use.
“But that’s why we signed up for this job — to make the tough decisions,” Ellis said. “And budgets are always a statement about what your moral code is.”
County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who is not seeking re-election in November, said voters should be aware of the proposed budget’s $45 million allocated in one-time funding for county programs. That will leave the court to find funding for the programs again next year, she said.
“We’re patching the bullet hole with a Band-Aid for one more year,” Hidalgo said.
Looking ahead
With a projected shortfall of about $180 million, the court is expected to adopt its 2026-27 fiscal year $3.09 billion budget during the Sept. 17 meeting. The court is expected to also take a final vote on the proposed tax rate, adopting it before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
