Sarah Grunau/ Houston Public Media
Harris County commissioners advanced a major property tax hike on Tuesday, expected to cost Harris County homeowners an additional $198 this year.
Commissioners will still need to finalize a proposed $3.1 billion budget and take a final vote on the tax rate next week before the county’s next fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
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Commissioners are charged with setting tax rates for four separate taxing entities, including the Harris County Flood Control District, Harris Health and the Port of Houston Authority. In total, the 2027 county tax rate advanced by commissioners on Tuesday is $0.67 per $100 of valuation — a 7.6% increase from last year’s tax rate of $0.62, according to agenda documents.
More than 140 county residents addressed commissioners during a public comment period at the special meeting Tuesday, several of whom implored the elected body to reconsider the proposed property tax hike.
On Tuesday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner Tom Ramsey voted against the proposed tax rate increases that would cut costs for several county programs. Commissioners acknowledged the county’s fiscal constraints and declined to dedicate funds towards certain services including a low-cost spay and neuter program.
Commissioners voted to secure several initiatives in the county’s 2027 budget — including a $20 minimum wage increase for workers at the Harris Center — a state-designated local mental health authority structured as a free-standing county entity. They also dedicated funds for a new community safety initiative championed by Commissioner Rodney Ellis.
In an effort to shore up money to bridge a major $180 million budget deficit, the county will sell underutilized properties and increase certain fees, like making it more expensive for landlords to file eviction claims against tenants in Harris County.
The county approved a slate of raises for most elected county officials. That was after Commissioner Rodney Ellis said he would only vote in favor of raising each of the eight elected county constables’ salaries to $305,000 if the provision also included most other elected officials in the county.
Skyrocketing healthcare premiums and a previous county law enforcement pay parity initiative are also driving up costs and widening the county’s 2027 budget gap.
“We did the right, responsible thing to make sure that we were meeting the market and paying our law enforcement officers fairly and in alignment with the market so that we don’t [lose] experienced officers to another agency,” Commissioner Lesley Briones said. “Every officer we lose, that’s about $120,000 in training that we’ve invested.”
As a result of a costly pay equity study, the county will also spend millions of dollars on across-the-board pay raises for elected officials in 2027. Those raises will bring pay up to $305,000 for most elected county officials, but doesn’t include Hidalgo — who will not seek re-election for her position in November.
County Treasurer Carla Wyatt will also not receive a raise next year.
Commissioners on Tuesday declined a $40,000 salary increase for Wyatt, who was previously recommended for a raise through the pay equity study. Last month, a publicly-led Harris County salary grievance committee also voted to recommend the raise for Wyatt, which was about $126,000 less than what she originally requested. The committee’s recommended raise would have brought Wyatt’s salary up to $179,000.
Her salary will remain at $139,000. She will become the lowest-paid elected county official in 2027 after the court set a legislative priority to dissolve her office, following in line with other Texas counties that eliminated the office, like Galveston County.
Harris County Commissioners Court will reconvene on Sept. 17 to finalize budget enhancements.