News
Harris County’s Top Budget Official: Property Tax Debt Falling, Not Rising
Posted on · County Budget Officer Bill Jackson says the county’s per capita property tax debt has fallen 21 percent since 2012.
Tag: State Senator Paul Bettencourt
News
Who’s Ready To Pay For Flood Prevention
Posted on · The problem is no governing body so far has formally approved what could be billions for huge construction projects
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Pension Conversations & the Evolution of the Passing Game in Football: Friday’s Show (October 14, 2016)
Posted on · During this fundraising week, Houston Matters is highlighting coverage of a number of important issues and developments that weâve felt compelled to revisit a number of times over the course of the last year, like campus carry, the state of the oil and gas industry and efforts to mitigate traffic. Today, though, we turn our […]
Houston Matters
New Rules Regarding Fetal Remains — Are They About Dignity or Discouraging Women from Getting Abortions?
Posted on · New rules proposed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the state's Health and Human Services Commission would change the way fetal tissue is disposed of after medical procedures like abortions, requiring burials or cremation instead of long-standing procedures allowing disposal in sanitary landfills. But it would also apply to miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies terminated in […]
Houston Matters
Dueling Visions On How to Solve Houston’s Pension Problems
Posted on · Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has thus far insisted that however the city's pension woes are resolved won't include changing from a defined benefits to a defined compensation system. We explore the differences between the two structures. We also consider what each means for city employees and why the mayor and the city's three pension boards […]
Houston Matters
What Do Your Property Taxes Pay for and What Reforms Might Be on the Way?
Posted on · You've probably received your property tax estimate, and perhaps you’ve disputed the amount. We talk with Scott Hochberg, a former state representative who served on the public education committee, about what your taxes pay for when it comes to schools. And we also speak with State Sen. Paul Bettencourt about the recent legislative changes to […]
Houston Matters
What is a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone and What Does it Do?
Posted on · Earlier this month, City Council voted to expand the Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone to cover the Museum District, The Menil Collection and the University of St. Thomas. Is that a good thing or a bad thing for the area? Well, to answer that question, you need to know what a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone […]