Over a Million Tax Bills are “UP” on Average and “IN THE MAIL”
New Property Tax System Replaces 30-Year Old Mainframe

HOUSTON – November 17, 2005 – Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt announces that his office has begun mailing 1,356,000 property tax bills for 2005, which should begin arriving today. For the first time ever, taxpayers will receive with their tax bill a 5-year property tax history that will show the amount of property tax increases and decreases for the county, cities, community colleges and special taxing jurisdictions. The same 5-year tax history information is also available for each Harris County property tax account on the Tax Office Web site at www.hctax.net.

“The good news is that the Tax Office completed the installation of a new property tax system that generated these tax bills replacing a 30-year old mainframe,” said Bettencourt. “The bad news is that average Houston homeowners’ combined property tax bills will be up by approximately 7% this year.”

The ACT System (Appraisal & Collection Technologies) was contracted by Commissioners Court in 2002 and is fully operational. The Oracle-based system replaces a 30-year old mainframe computer running non-relational COBOL programming. The Tax Office and the vendor rigorously tested the ACT system before going online for the tax year. In addition, the Harris County Auditors Office checked 216 different business processes in conjunction with the combined ACT team prior to the release of tax bills. All 1.356 million 2005-tax bills are currently online at www.hctax.net.

“Whether it was calculated under the old system or new, the unfortunate answer is your property tax bill is probably up, the question is how much?” said Bettencourt. “However, all taxpayers can take comfort that this multimillion dollar system was paid for with delinquent property taxes, not current property tax monies and that’s a real bargain.”

Bettencourt also is reminding taxpayers to“Get online instead of in line” to pay their 2005 property tax bills before January 31. Convenient payment options are included on the Tax Office Web site at www.hctax.net. Taxpayers may choose to pay their entire bill online with 24/7 access by free electronic check or credit card, or by touch-tone telephone with a credit card by calling 713-368-CARD (2273). For more information, taxpayers may call 713-368-2000.

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