Double-Digit Tax Hikes On The Way For Harris County Property Owners

The Harris County Appraisal District will be sending out 2015 property tax bills in the first week of November. The total taxable value for property in Harris County has increased by 12 percent since 2014, from $349.9 billion to $392.2 billion.

"That, of course, is going to result in increased property tax bills for everyone," says Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Mike Sullivan. "Anything inside the 610 Loop is desirable, and those areas that are going through either development or gentrification are seeing double-digit increases in assessed values. And then of course you have businesses. Some businesses are doing very well. Commercial real estate is doing well. Apartment projects, multifamily locations [are doing well]. So the easier way to look at this is there are not very many places that didn't have an increase."

The average residential home tax bill is set to rise by about $310.

Property tax bills for this year are due January 31, 2016.

Sullivan encourages property owners who are not able to pay their bills in full by that date to contact his office to set up a payment plan.