As I noted here, the Harris County Commissioners Court is proposing a substantial increase in our property taxes. I also laid out a way for the two Republicans on the court, Commissioner Steve Radack and Commissioner Jack Cagle, to block it if they wish. But I suspected that they would not, preferring to use it as an issue in next year’s election. And certainly in 2022. After receiving an email from HRBC, I’m pretty confident that I’m right.
HRBC launches new website prior to October 8th Harris County Commissioner vote on potential property tax rate increase
Check how this may affect you at yourharriscountytaxes.com
HRBC has launched a website for Harris County residents to check how this property tax rate increase may affect them directly. At yourharriscountytaxes.com, users can look up their current property value then calculate how much more they will pay in Harris County Property Taxes if the new rate of $0.65260 per $100 valuation is adopted.
“HRBC believes in smart, fiscally conservative legislative changes,” said Alan Hassenflu, HRBC Chairman. “We cannot stand behind this property tax rate increase. The County doesn’t require these funds to maintain its core services. This is negligent, and we vehemently oppose this tax rate increase.”
In less than two weeks, the Harris County Commissioners Court will vote to adopt a new property tax rate. After the County was given three options, County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and Commissioner Adrian Garcia voted for the option with the largest increase; one that could be as much as a 12% increase including the rise in property values.
“The County has completely failed to communicate any clear reasoning for the first tax increase in twenty years,” said Richard Rothfelder, HRBC PAC Treasurer. “Harris County’s growth and economic expansion has provided billions of dollars annually in tax revenues; this misguided tax increase will hurt future growth and economic expansion.”
About HRBC
The mission of HRBC is to support public policy, elected officials, and candidates for elected office that promote our core values of limited government, capitalism, and private property rights. Known as Houston’s premier business coalition, HRBC is made up of a wide variety of businessmen and women located in the Houston area.
The website they created is not accurate, as it gives everyone a generic 12% increase. Your actual increase will depend upon your appraisal increase. In my case, my Harris County property taxes will increase by 9.6%, a substantial increase but below the 12% listed. As I mentioned in the first post about this, I don’t have a clue as to whether or not the county needs the money because the county budget is so complex it is hard to decipher.
So, I have to trust the TaxMan on this.
Taxpayers are being "Taxed to the Max" in Harris Co. The average homeowner with a taxable value of $179,660 will see an estimated 12% tax increase, or roughly $131 more, from last years tax bill. Read more here: https://t.co/wj41yQyCls #txlege @ktrhnews @Lina4HC @HarrisCountyRP
— Team Bettencourt (@TeamBettencourt) September 19, 2019
It does seem excessive. And it is important to note that Commissioner Cagle offered a compromise raising the tax rate of only the flood control district. It was rejected by the Democrats on the court.
But the fact remains that the two Republicans on the court can block the increase. I know that some people want to use a “Democratic” tax increase to win an election but why not kill it when you can? As they say, the best time to kill a snake is when the hoe is in your hand. Take the heat from the media for missing a meeting, spread the word far and wide that Republicans are against excessive tax increases, and win elections on principles and policy. That’s what I’d do.
Stop the slander against County Judge Lina Hidalgo
Speaking of winning elections, I’d advise Republicans of all stripes to stop the personal insults against Lina Hidalgo. It’s sickening watching the nonsense that the grassroots and some elected officials are saying about her. Calling her ‘tiny’, ‘diminutive’, ‘little child’, ‘not so bright crayon in the box’, ‘Dora the Exploer’, and any other name is not going to win elections.
I was talking to one of the Republican consultants in Harris County and I thought that the percentage of female voters in 2020 would be 52-53%. The consultant thinks it will be as high as 55%. Is it a winning strategy to personally insult Judge Hidalgo with misogynistic comments?
Look, I get it. I was a huge supporter of Ed Emmett. He had a calming presence because of his experience. Judge Hidalgo has no experience and it does show from time to time. And I disagree with the vast majority of her policies. But she is in fact very, very bright. And as she gains experience in the public limelight, she will be better at communicating with us during times of emergencies. I’ll still be on the other side of her policies but I have no doubt about this.
Fight with her on policy. Block the tax increase. Stop the slander.
I’ll leave you with Commissioner Jack Cagle’s comment at the last public hearing:
‘When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.’ -Socrates.
Someone convert these numbers to dollars per $100K of home valuation. It is hard to conceptualize these numbers.
Current rate results in taxes of $508.14 per $100k valuation, after the homestead exemption. The new rate results in taxes of $522.08 per $100k in valuation, after the homestead exemption. That’s an increase of $13.94, or 2.74%.
Very few people will see a 12% increase in their taxes. The increase in overall taxes collected is driven by factors other than the rate. The appraised value of properties in the county increased, but much of that increase is driven by new property improvements, like the big developments in the Cypress area. So far, no one has provided details on how much of the increase in appraised was new property, and how much was increased appraised values.
Much of the impact of tax hikes is passed on to renters (a majority of county households, if memory serves) who do not get a homeowner exemption, and the commercial sector which will endeavor to pass on the cost of higher taxes to their customers.
Thus the Democratic majority on Commissioners Court are bringing harm to their constituents in ways they chose to ignore or they simply do not understand.
Barry Klein
No one is talking about the potential impact a tax increase would have on commercial and industrial properties. Those appraised values are not capped.
To prove they are really against the outrageous 2019 tax grab Radack and Cagle must exercise some courage and defeat the tax increase now by skipping the tax vote meeting. Otherwise, they will not be forgiven by their constituents who will be permanently (forever) stuck with the tax increase. One of them has a chance to overcome a record of supporting a “secret tax increase” in the 90s and large tax increases for many years.
The commissioners should not be afraid of threats that the media will attack them for skipping the tax rate vote. If we are talking about the Chronicle, its influence has waned terribly and TV will only report the action. The commissioners can actually turn the critics promised attack (lemon) into lemonade by becoming heroes to homeowners (the biggest voting block) and make their stand for taxpayers an election issue in 2020.
If they do, Radack should win re-election and they set the stage for a possible future resurgence for republicans. If they don’t, these commissioners are worthless, unnecessary and will be defeated.
Maybe Bettencourt et al shouldn’t have passed a stupid law that pretty much guaranteed large population counties and cities would increase taxes in advance. The Republicans in the Legislature always seem to be big fans of local control, but then pass laws that remove local control. SB2 panders to home owners by only coming in to effect if the tax rate results in a 3.5% increase on residential properties. Why do our legislators hate businesses so much? Of course, the County is able to mitigate residential impacts of tax rates by increasing the homestead exemption. I noticed that Morgan’s Point has a $1 million homestead exemption.
If you want to talk about high taxes, I am glad I don’t live in Shoreacres, with their almost 90 cent rate. That’s ridiculously high, and a hindrance to living there. Or, maybe the city officials realize that the tax rate needs to be high enough to cover the costs of running the city.
Ross, thank you for the opportunity to compare Shoreacres to Morgans Point re tax rates. It’s something that I actually know about. Can’t respond properly on my phone but I will respond when I have a chance to at home.
For now, I can tell you that our real estate market is finally booming and there doesn’t seem to be a “hindrance” on people moving here.
David, I’m not sure the tongue in cheek tone I intended came through. I know it’s been tough in Shoreacres, and I’m glad to hear things are improving. I’m pretty certain you wouldn’t support a rate that high unless it was absolutely necessary. I haven’t done any real research, but I’m going to guess that in Morgan’s Point, only a couple of large businesses pay taxes.
Hey Ross,
I finally have time to discuss this. It is the perfect comparison of how our property tax system is such a bizarre way to finance government.
Morgan’s Point is a tiny city with a population of approx. 347 people. Their newly adopted tax rate is $0.880987$100, including a debt rate of $0.085969.
Shoreacres is a small city with a population of approx. 1,608 residents. Our newly adopted tax rate is $0.867667, including $0.1640739 debt rate.
Morgan’s Point’s newly adopted budget calls for Total Revenue of $10,063,962. Their Total Expenses are $8,488,267 for a budget surplus of $1,575,695.
Shoreacres’ newly adopted budget calls for Total Revenue of $2,314,414.86. Our Total Expenses are $2,310,711.69 for a budget surplus of $3,703.17.
The difference? Morgan’s Point has hundreds of millions in commercial property plus the Port of Houston pays them $2.6 million per year. Shoreacres has one commercial property, the Houston Yacht Club, and receives no payments from the Port of Houston.
DJ
Regarding the politics of skipping the vote, I think its much more complicated. They would be accused of blocking a flood mitigation funding program. If recent history follows through, theres a 50 percent chance of a Imelda/Harvey/Tax Day type event next year. And the messaging will be crowded next cycle too, so the attempt to get that explanation to the voters will be difficult.
I suspect that the top of the ticket in Harris County starts off at about 58-42 Dem next year. While District 3 is probably slightly GOP, its probably not by much. Raddick won by 15 points in 2016 versus a unfunded candidate in 2016. Harris County percentages fell by 4 percent between 16 and 18. If they fall by another 4 percent between 18 and 20, and the Dems nominate and fund a strong candidate, Raddick could be below 10 percent in margin already. Im not sure Raddick has as much margin to play with. One flood could wipe that out, if voters blame him for it. The race is Raddicks to lose, but he could actually lose it.
And Commissioners Court districts will be redistricted before Cagle comes up again in 2022. The map will not be as favorable to either Raddick or Cagle. I suspect the first priority will be to firm up Garcia’s district, but beyond that, I suspect the Dems will pack one district with Republicans and draw the other district as a moderate lean Dem district. Either Raddick or Cagle will likely be facing a very different and more challenging electorate in 2022. Providing the very same people who will determine what the district looks like in 2022 with a powerful example as to why they should go for 4 safe Dem County Commissioners seats by using blocking techniques may not be a good move.
So theyll just vote no and not use the quorum rules to prevent it from passing. It might be the smarter political move. Ed Emmitt losing had massive consequences for Harris County. This is one of them.
Tom in Lazybrook: I might agree with your flood control argument except if you examine the tax increase numbers most of the tax increase is going to the general fund for a supposed “contingency fund,” really a slush fund. If the commissioners don’t kill the tax increase now, the situation in 2020 and beyond won’t matter, they will lose for sure. Defeating the tax increase now is the best re-election campaign issue they can hope for. Touting roads, parks and libraries won’t win them re-election.
Don, an average voter with a foot of water in her home isnt likely to care about the explanation for blocking funds for flood mitigation.
And that homeowner probably wont even hear the explanation either. 2020 airwaves and web are going to be crowded, with the Presidential race, a contested Senate race, 4 contested area Congressional races, and the fight for controlvof the Texas House.
I guarantee you if they use quorum rules and theres a flood, the dems will take full advantage of it. And theres a reasonable chance of flooding next year.
When the top of your ticket is a tax and spend never Trump liberal like Ed Emmett and a Planned Parenthood aligned dingbat prosecutor that jails rape victims it kind of reflects on the Harris County Repub Club.
But alas, more than ten miles away so not my worry.
btw, what does the acronym HRBC stand for?
Tom in Lazybrook and Ross: The average voter doesn’t have a foot of water in their home and never will. What they will have is a higher than necessary tax bill forever. And to Ross, the voter approved City of Houston tax cap has ended the city’s run away property tax bills. I don’t think you will get many taxpayers to agree with you that the new tax law is stupid. Its not Bettencourt’s fault that the democrats are choosing to sock it to the taxpayers one last time. Their explanation, printed on the county’s published notice today, that they need the extra money for financial stability is ridiculous. The county already has hundreds of millions in reserves and a excellent credit rating.
If the only thing voters care about were flooding and property taxes, you might have an argument. But when you add up the voters that are voting on other issues, the 2 GOP Commissioners Court slots are about +4 and +6 GOP and moving away from the GOP. The GOP cant risk any non-ideological defections. And thats before the Dem majority redistricts in 2021.
Its no longer 2014. The dynamic has changed.