Government
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ, ATIRIKTA KUMAR & JESSICA SHORTEN
Harris County approves increase in property tax rate
North Harris County Regional Water Authority drops rates At a Sept. 16 meeting, the North Harris County Regional Water Authority voted to reduce surface water rates and groundwa- ter pumpage fees, according to a Sept. 18 news release. This is the board’s third rate reduction since 2023. In a nutshell The board voted to reduce surface water rates to $3.05 per 1,000 gallons from $4.05 and groundwater pumpage fees to $2.60 per 1,000 gallons from $3.60, according to the news release. The rate cuts went into effect Oct. 1. The reduced rates are continued efforts by the board to provide relief to area taxpayers, board President and Director Melissa Rowell said in a statement.
Contracts approved for patrol vehicles, radar equipment Humble City Council members voted on Sept. 26 to approve $1.44 million for the lease of new patrol vehicles and traffic radar equip- ment for the Humble Police Department. The details City Manager Jason Stuebe said the agreement needed to be approved by council following a review of the agreement with D&M Commercial Leasing for 14 Chevrolet Tahoes for $1.29 million. “Given the auto market every year and the allocation of Tahoes and the timing, I had to go ahead and sign the lease agreement that was in excess of $50,000 last week so that we could secure our place in line,” Stuebe said. The second lease agreement—a $149,711 expenditure—with Stalker Radar is for a 36-month contract to provide radar equipment for the HPD to assist with traffic enforcement efforts in the city. Harris County commissioners approved an increase in the county’s property tax rate Sept. 19. The takeaway Commissioners approved the following prop- erty tax rates per $100 valuation for three taxing entities: $0.38529 for Harris County, $0.00615 for the Harris County Port of Houston Authority and $0.16348 for the Harris Health System. Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey cast the dissenting vote on the county and hospital district tax rates; the port tax rate vote was unanimous. Commissioners also approved a property tax rate of $0.04897 per $100 valuation for the Harris County Flood Control District in August, which will require voter approval on Nov. 5. What readers should know If voters approve the tax rate increase for the HCFCD in November and the overall tax rate is set, the owner of a home valued at $300,000
Harris County overall property tax rate (per $100 valuation)
$1.00 $0.80 $0.60 $0.40 $0
$0.63
$0.6039
NOTE: THE OVERALL TAX RATE COMPRISES TAX RATES FOR HARRIS COUNTY, THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM AND THE *INCLUDES HCFCD’S PROPOSED TAX RATE OF $0.04897, WHICH WILL BE UP FOR VOTER CONSIDERATION DURING THE NOV. 5 ELECTION
HARRIS COUNTY PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
would pay roughly $1,450 in annual property taxes after the county’s 20% homestead exemp- tion is factored in. Under the current property tax rate, that homeowner pays about $1,272 in annual property taxes.
Humble City Council approves 8% tax increase Humble City Council members unanimously approved an 8% tax rate increase for fiscal year 2024-25 during a Sept. 26 meeting, while narrowly missing a voter-approval tax rate election. What you need to know Type of tax rate No-new-revenue tax rate
Tax rate (per $100 valuation)
$0.2427
Voter-approval tax rate
$0.2526
During budget workshops in early August, city officials discussed $27.2 million worth of infra- structure improvements that would be necessary in the next fiscal year, including: • $12.5 million for wastewater projects
Approved tax rate/ de minimus tax rate
$0.2614
SOURCE: CITY OF HUMBLE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
city to collect an additional $500,000 in property tax revenue without requiring a election if it surpasses the voter-approval rate. The breakdown While the approved tax rate is higher than the voter-approval tax rate, no election is required since it does not exceed the de minimus rate of $0.2614 per $100 of valuation. The city also expects an additional $61,033 in revenue from new property roll additions. “This budget represents our collective commit- ment to investing in our community with an eye towards the future as it addresses numerous needs and long-overdue improvements throughout the city.” City Manager Jason Stuebe said.
• $7.4 million for road projects • $3.9 million for water projects • $3.4 million for drainage projects
According to budget documents, the most critical project is the replacement of the main sewer line connecting the northern part of the city to the water and sewer treatment plants in the city. As a result of these improvements, council members agreed to utilize a special tax rate known as the de minimus rate. According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the de minimus rate is a special tax rate that municipalities with a population of less than 30,000 can use to fund necessary infra- structure improvements. The rate will allow a
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LAKE HOUSTON - HUMBLE - KINGWOOD EDITION
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