Harris County
Harris County ratifies “no new revenue” tax rates for the current fiscal year
Posted on · Wednesday’s meeting of Harris County Commissioners Court brought to an end a two-month fight over the county’s budget and tax rates.
Tag: Harris County budget
Houston Matters
What might happen when county commissioners fully reconvene for the first time in weeks (Nov. 2, 2022)
Posted on · On Wednesday's show: It could be a testy morning at Harris County Commissioners Court, where the five members will meet for the first time in weeks to officially sign off on a "no new revenue" budget.
Harris County
Harris County budget cuts are locked in as county is forced to adopt “no new revenue rate”
Posted on · Republican Commissioners Jack Cagle and Tom Ramsey boycotted commissioners court for the sixth time in a row, preventing Democrats from adopting proposed lower rates before a Friday deadline.
Elections
Harris County could face delays in December runoffs, May 2023 elections due to the tax and budget crisis
Posted on · Elections Administrator Clifford Tatum said his office is fully funded for the November elections, but it lacks the funds under the current budget to guarantee the next two elections will run smoothly.
Harris County
Harris County Republican commissioners continue boycott of court meetings over tax rates
Posted on · Commissioners Jack Cagle and Tom Ramsey had sought a special, discussion-only meeting to hammer out a compromise on taxes and the budget. They got it, but refused to attend, claiming Commissioner Adrian Garcia was negotiating in bad faith.
Harris County
Republican Harris County commissioners extend their boycott, blocking action on taxes for a third meeting
Posted on · Judge Lina Hidalgo signaled Commissioner Jack Cagle’s alternative tax proposal offered a way out of the impasse over setting a new tax rate for Fiscal Year 2023, but time for a compromise is running short.
Houston Matters
Compromise offered over county budget, and restaurants where you should never skip dessert (Oct. 5, 2022)
Posted on · On Wednesday's show: We learn about the compromise one commissioner is proposing over the county budget. Then we discuss the week in politics. And food writers talk about Houston restaurants where you should never skip dessert.
Politics
Cagle offers a compromise to resolve Harris County’s tax and budget deadlock
Posted on · Republican Commissioner Jack Cagle is proposing $149 million in new taxes, with the revenues to be split among law enforcement, health care, flood control, and discretionary spending.
Politics
Harris County budget, property tax discussions stall as GOP commissioners again boycott tax vote
Posted on · Without four of the five Harris County Commissioners present, the court can't vote on the proposed property tax rate for fiscal year 2023, which starts October 1.
Houston Matters
Walkout at Commissioners Court, and whether bail reform measures are working (Sept. 14, 2022)
Posted on · On Wednesday's show: We learn why two GOP members of Harris County Commissioners Court boycotted a vote on the county budget. Then, we discuss the latest developments in politics. And new research examines whether Harris County's bail reform measures are working.
Harris County
Harris County leaders vote to sue Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar over budget threat
Posted on · Hegar had threatened to invoke a recently passed law that would force large counties to get voter approval before passing a budget that cuts funding to law enforcement.
Houston Matters
County plans to sue over allegations it was defunding the police (Aug. 31, 2022)
Posted on · On Wednesday’s show: We learn about the latest salvo in a battle over Harris County's budget and allegations from state officials that county officials are defunding the police. Then, we discuss that and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.
Harris County
Harris County adopts budget with focus on public safety. GOP commissioners say it’s not enough
Posted on · Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo condemned alternative budget proposals by Republican Commissioners Tom Ramsey and Jack Cagle as “dystopian.”
Criminal Justice
Harris County DA Kim Ogg wants to hire 82 more prosecutors. Democrats haven’t been receptive
Posted on · Criminal justice reformers have successfully pushed Democratic county commissioners to reject similar requests by the district attorney for the past three years.
obituary
Dick Raycraft, longtime Harris County budget chief, dies at 82
Posted on · Raycraft worked in Harris County government for more than 40 years, and served as the forerunner to the modern county administrator.