Homeowners in Harris County, Texas could see their county property tax bill climb by about 12.3% under a proposal being weighed to fund next year's budget. Officials have stressed that nothing has been decided yet, but the potential increase has quickly become a flashpoint for local taxpayers.
The county is proposing roughly $3.1 billion in general fund spending for next year. That plan is tied to an effort to close a budget gap that officials have described as being in the range of about $180 million to $218 million.
One of the options under consideration is a tax rate set near the voter-approval threshold. Under that scenario, the average Harris County homeowner's property tax bill could rise by about 12.3%. Officials have emphasized that this figure applies only to the county portion of a homeowner's overall property tax bill.
The proposal has divided county leaders. State Senator Paul Bettencourt and Commissioner Tom Ramsey argue that the county should look hard at its spending before asking taxpayers for more money. Ramsey said he is advocating to keep the tax rate the same, which he believes can be done by cutting spending in the general fund.
Ramsey also pointed to the cumulative cost of recent increases. He said that between the last two major increases, the first cost about $312 per home and this one would cost about $200, adding up to roughly $500 in extra taxes just for the county.
On the other side, Commissioners Lesley Briones and Adrian Garcia argue that Harris County is being squeezed by costs coming from the state and federal governments. Garcia's team pointed to what it called state-funded mandates, federal health care cuts and state tax policies, saying the county is trying to manage those pressures while dealing with growing needs as it continues to expand.
For now, no tax increase has been approved. Officials have stressed that this remains a discussion carried over from the last commissioners' meeting, and the next major budget decision is expected on September 8.