County Judge Lina Hidalgo abstained from Harris County’s tax rate vote on Thursday, September 17, and criticized the budget the court adopted alongside it.
KPRC 2 reports that Hidalgo called the budget irresponsible and unsustainable, and said that the tax rate and the budget do not substitute for a sustainable fiscal plan. The outlet reports she stepped out of the chamber rather than take part in the final vote.
The court adopted a combined rate of 67 cents per $100 of taxable value, which KPRC 2 describes as an increase of approximately 7.9 percent and an effect of about $190 a year on an average homeowner’s county bill. Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey voted against it. The three commissioners who voted in favor defended the increase the same day.
The county rate is one line on a Lake Houston area tax bill. Homeowners in Kingwood, Humble, Atascocita, Huffman, Summerwood and Fall Creek also pay school district, city or municipal utility district rates set separately.
