Investing in infrastructure From the cover
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS & MELISSA ENAJE
Measuring the impact
Two-minute impact
If voters approve the flood control measure, Harris County homeowners with the county’s average property value of $379,030 and a home- stead exemption would see a $60 increase per year in annual taxes, according to the county’s Office of Management and Budget. The average property values in the Greater Houston Heights and Montrose neighborhoods are around $600,000, according to Zillow, a real estate marketplace company. The tax rate increase for a $600,000 home would be around $86.
If the tax rate increase passes, an additional $113 million would go directly into a dedicated maintenance fund supporting critical maintenance projects, staffing needs and new resident-focused communication initiatives.
Harris County voters will choose Nov. 5 whether to fund the Harris County Flood Control District’s proposed tax rate of $0.04897 per $100 of valuation, a nearly 58% tax rate increase from last year.
Major maintenance Among other maintenance needs in Harris County, flood control officials are leading 36 major maintenance projects that are either underway or planned. Estimated costs have not been calculated for 20 of those projects, and the remaining 16 cost a projected $20.8 million.
Precinct 2 Total projects: 11 Estimated cost: $1.9M (costs TBD for 8 projects) Precinct 1 Total projects: 9 Estimated cost: $6.8M (costs TBD for 4 projects) Precinct 3 Total projects: 8 Estimated cost: $6.8M (costs TBD for 3 projects) Precinct 4 Total projects: 8 Estimated cost: $5.3M (costs TBD for 5 projects)
Estimated tax increase per year
Property value
3
4
290
$300,000
+$47
59
99 TOLL
45
$379,030*
+$60
10
$500,000
+$79
10
2
$700,000
+$110
99 TOLL
610
149
GALVESTON BAY
$900,000
+$142
1
69
N
$1,000,000
+$158
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET/COMMUNITY IMPACT *COUNTY AVERAGE
One more thing
Staying informed
Oct.
Oct. 7: Last day to register to vote
Houston has not increased taxes in nearly two decades. In the last 10 years, the city’s tax rate has decreased from $0.6388 per $100 valuation to $0.5191 per $100 valuation, according to the city’s website. “The residents have seen the benefits of having a lower tax bill, but the flipside of that is the impact to city services,” Dubowski said. “Yes, you’ve had a lower bill, but your services have been impacted as well.” Meanwhile, Houston ISD has a $4.4 billion bond package on the November ballot, although district officials said the bond will not require a tax rate increase. The bond focuses largely on upgrading and improving more than 270 campuses throughout the district. The most significant improvements at local schools include a partial renovation at Pin Oak Middle School. Almost every other school would see security upgrades and heating, ventilation and/ or air conditioning improvements.
Taxpayers within the city of Houston could also see increases in their annual bills. Houston city officials are considering raising the property tax rate for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Houston City Council is expected to vote in October to adopt a new tax rate that could reflect a 3- to 6-cent increase per $100 of valuation to cover the costs accrued from Hurricane Beryl and the May derecho. Finance Director Melissa Dubowski said the city can use a disaster exception that would allow it to surpass the state revenue cap and raise property taxes without going to the polls for voter approval. The council has until Oct. 28 to decide if it will raise taxes for fiscal year 2024-25. However, city officials have also discussed going to the voters in a future election cycle to raise taxes above the locally imposed revenue cap to expand city services without cutting from the budget.
Oct. 9: Houston City Council hosts tax rate public hearing Oct. 16-17: Virtual Harris County Flood Control District open houses on tax rate increase Oct. 21: Early voting starts Oct. 28: Houston City Council votes on tax rate Nov. 5: Election Day
Nov.
SOURCES: CITY OF HOUSTON, HOUSTON ISD, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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HEIGHTS - RIVER OAKS - MONTROSE EDITION
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