Harris County weighs largest tax hike in two decades Tuesday

Spring homeowners could see their Harris County property tax bills jump about 12% if commissioners approve a proposed $3.1 billion budget Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The combined county tax rate would rise from $0.62 to $0.67 per $100 of assessed value, a 7.6% increase. Houston Public Media reported it would be the highest proposed rate increase in two decades.

Spring is unincorporated, meaning Harris County functions as the local government providing services that cities handle elsewhere. Property taxes fund 81.5% of the county's general fund revenue, according to Fox 26.

What it means for your tax bill

The dollar hit depends on your home's value and which taxing entities are included. KPRC 2 reported the county portion alone would climb from about $1,202 to $1,350 for an average homestead, an increase of $148. That does not include separate levies for Harris Health, the Flood Control District or the Port of Houston.

ABC13 estimated a $226 increase for a homestead appraised at $400,000 when all four taxing entities are included. The Houston Chronicle reported the median homeowner would pay roughly 12% more overall.

The county accounts for a little over 60% of the proposed combined rate increase. Harris Health is responsible for most of the rest, according to the Chronicle. Some of the increase stems from voter-approved bonds, including the $2.5 billion flood bond passed after Hurricane Harvey and a $2.5 billion bond voters approved in 2023 for a new Harris Health hospital.

How the deficit grew

Harris County faces an approximately $180 million deficit heading into fiscal year 2027.

Spending has outpaced revenue for five consecutive years. Early projections pegged the shortfall at $129 million, but a July estimate pushed it past $180 million, a jump of more than 40%, according to the Chronicle.

A "pay parity" initiative to match county salaries with Houston Police Department pay will cost $292 million annually by 2030, the Chronicle reported. Commissioners also recently set salaries at $305,000 for several elected officials, including constables, the county attorney and the district attorney.

Ramsey pushes cuts, Briones still weighing options

Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, the court's lone Republican, called for spending reductions at a Thursday, Sept. 3, press conference. He proposed eliminating the Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART), a program that sends unarmed responders to nonviolent 911 calls such as those involving homelessness and mental health crises.

HART launched in March 2022 and has responded to more than 31,000 calls, connecting over 5,000 residents to care, according to Community Impact. The program has about 20 staff members and a $2 million budget.

"There are dozens and dozens and dozens of areas where we could reduce again non-statutory areas of responsibility that we're in," Ramsey said at the press conference.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, whose district includes Spring, said on the Hello Houston radio program Thursday, Sept. 3, that her office is still workshopping cost-saving efforts.

She has not said how she will vote.

Briones noted the unincorporated part of Harris County is growing 2.6 times faster than the City of Houston.