BY CASSANDRA JENKINS & MELISSA ENAJE
One more thing
Staying informed
Oct.
Oct. 7: Last day to register to vote Oct. 9: Houston tax rate public hearing Oct. 10: Bellaire informational bond meeting Oct. 21: Early voting starts Oct. 22: Second Bellaire informational bond meeting Oct. 28: Houston City Council votes on tax rate Nov. 5: Election Day
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.
Nov.
SOURCES: CITY OF HOUSTON, CITY OF BELLAIRE, HOUSTON ISD, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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