Harris County Property Tax Rate Rises 7.6% to About $0.67 as Fall Bills Go Out
Harris County's combined property tax rate — adopted 3-1 on September 17, one of the highest the county has set in two decades — takes the county's share of a $400,000 home's bill up by roughly $193 a year, with statements arriving in October and November and payment due January 31, 2027.
Harris County property tax statements are going out this fall with a noticeably larger county share. Commissioners Court on September 17 approved a combined rate of about $0.67 per $100 of taxable value, up 7.6 percent from roughly $0.62 last year, The City Reporters reported Monday. The combined figure covers the four entities whose rates the court sets: the county general fund, the Harris County Flood Control District, Harris Health and the Port of Houston Authority. The county's own maintenance and operations rate rose to $0.41750 per $100 from $0.38066.
For a home valued at $400,000, the increase works out to about $193 more per year, according to Daniel Ramos, director of the county's Office of Management and Budget; Houston Public Media put the average added cost at about $198. The exact amount depends on appraised value and exemptions. The county portion is only part of the bill — cities, school districts, community colleges and utility districts set their own rates.
The rate passed 3-1, with Commissioners Rodney Ellis, Lesley Briones and Adrian Garcia voting for it and Commissioner Tom Ramsey against. County Judge Lina Hidalgo left the room before the vote, saying she was symbolically stepping out because she considered the budget unsound; she called it "an irresponsible budget" and "an unsustainable budget." The court then adopted a $3.09 billion budget for the fiscal year that began October 1 on a 3-2 vote, with Ramsey and Hidalgo opposed. "Today, we passed a budget for working people in Harris County," Ellis said, calling it a "tough vote." Briones told homeowners directly: "Yes, homeowners, your taxes are gonna go up a bit. I don't take that lightly as someone who grew up check-to-check. But you know what will be more expensive? If we start slashing these critical services that you and your families depend on."
The county faced a projected shortfall of about $181 million going into budget season, and about 80 percent of its budget is funded by property taxes. Officials pointed to employee health care costs up $89 million from last year, pay equity, the justice system and $15 million added for indigent defense, along with federal funding cuts. To close the rest of the gap, the county is selling underused properties and raising some fees, and commissioners ordered a review of employee health plans.
Statements from the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector typically arrive in October and November, and under Texas law property taxes are due by January 31, 2027, with penalties and interest starting February 1. The tax office accepts payments online, by mail and in person; homeowners 65 or older or disabled can defer taxes on a homestead, and installment plans are available in some cases. The report's practical warning: check that exemptions were applied — a missing homestead exemption can cost far more than this year's rate increase. Briones and Garcia, two of the commissioners who voted for the increase, are on the ballot for re-election on November 3.
