Government
BY SARAH BRAGER & MELISSA ENAJE
Harris County ESD 9 board censures Commissioner Paiva The Harris County Emergency Services District No. 9 board voted unanimously Nov. 20 to censure Commissioner Rob Paiva for ongoing misconduct allegations brought forward in an Oct. 20 special-called meeting. What’s happening? Censure refers to a formal reprimand of a board member’s behavior, but it does not strip Paiva of his position as an ESD 9 commis- sioner, ocials said at the Nov. 20 meeting. The board voted Oct. 20 to le a complaint against Paiva with the Harris County district attorney’s oce to investigate allegations of unauthorized expenditures, collusion and Texas Open Meetings Act violations. Paiva attended the Nov. 20 meeting, but left before the vote took place and did not respond for comment as of press time. White Oak Bayou channel upgrades boost storm protection Ocials with Harris County Precinct 3 Commis- sioner Tom Ramsey’s oce announced in a Nov. 17 news release work on a channel widening for the White Oak Bayou tributary has been completed. The $28 million ood mitigation project could safeguard approximately 2,000 homes from major storm ooding in the Cypress area. The details The project was funded through the voter-ap- proved 2018 Harris County Flood Control District bond program, ocials said, and it widened the channel and converted the area to concrete, which will reduce erosion and improve stormwater ow eciency. “This project also reects the use of great engineering put forth by professionals with knowledge of this community and its needs for better stormwater conveyance," Ramsey said in the news release.
Judge appointed to new civil court Jermaine Thomas will serve as judge for Harris County’s newly created fth civil court at law starting in December after Harris County commissioners unanimously appointed Thomas at the Nov. 13 court meeting. Why now? In March, Harris County commissioners requested that Texas lawmakers create ve additional civil district courts by 2027.
The White Oak Bayou channel improvement was completed in November.
COURTESY HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 3
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WHITE OAK BAYOU CYPRESS SEGMENT
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“This appointment…represents an opportunity to expand access to justice and strengthen the foundation of fairness that Harris County
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The White Oak Bayou watershed stretches from central to northwest Harris County and includes the city of Jersey Village and portions of the city of Houston, encompassing at least 146 miles of open waterways in the watershed, according to the county ood control district.
courts are built upon.” JUDGE JERMAINE THOMAS, CIVIL COURT AT LAW NO. 5
Harris County rolls out online property tax platform Harris County ocials announced the launch of a new online platform designed to make it easier for business and property owners to process tax payments ahead of tax bills arriving in the mail throughout October and November. What to expect Key features on the new platform will include prepayment plans for 2026 taxes starting in Feb- ruary or March and automatic monthly payment
withdrawals to avoid penalties and interest. Users can now create a prole on the new tax site, Ramirez said, and starting in February, home- owners and business owners can start a prepaid tax payment plan and choose how many months in advance to spread payments automatically. Property and business owners can access the county’s new tax site at: www.myharriscountytax.com
Tax Assessor Annette Ramirez announced the new online system launch of “My Harris County Tax Account” on Nov. 19 in Downtown Houston. “Anything that we can do to make it easier to help our homeowners stay current on their taxes and not go delinquent, that is my goal,” Ramirez said.
2026 property tax dates April 1: Last day for business property
April 30: Last day to apply for many types of exemptions and for agricultural, timber, or wildlife productivity appraisal
May 15: Deadline for ling protests to the Appraisal Review Board (or by the 30th day after a notice of appraised value is mailed to the property owner, whichever is later)
October 1-31: Tax bills are usually mailed during this month
Jan. 31: 2025 property taxes due
owners to le renditions or request an extension
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SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTORCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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