HOUSTON – October 26, 2007 - Harris County Tax Assessor - Collector Paul Bettencourt says he sees a noticeable difference in the discussion and results of Property Tax Public Hearings around the County. This week countywide taxpayers received the news of $25 million dollars in property tax relief, thanks to the decision to cut the tax rate one penny by Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday.

        “County Judge Emmett’s motion to cut the tax rate, seconded by Commissioners Radack and Eversole, and agreed to by Commissioners Lee then Garcia set a good ‘tone’ for tax hearings in 2007 countywide,” said Bettencourt. “Anytime the public can keep $25 million dollars in their pocket, that’s property tax relief,” Bettencourt added.

        Bettencourt attended tax hearings for the City of Houston and Houston Community College this week on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss lowering proposed property tax rates.

        “By coincidence as well, Council Member Holm mentioned that the City of Houston’s property tax revenue estimate was now $25 million dollars above their budget for this year,” said Bettencourt. “I urged the Mayor and the other members of council to think seriously about letting the taxpayers keep that money too by reducing the property tax rate more than the currently proposed 1/8 of a penny at the City,” Bettencourt added.

       Bettencourt has repeatedly expressed three points:

Property tax rolls are up nearly 12% this year alone meaning large revenue increases  Tax rates need to be reduced on tax bills to offset increased property appraised values Any property tax relief is welcomed because it is certainly "better than nothing"

       The Tax Office calculates the effective property tax rate for most taxing jurisdictions it collects for which is a measure of the property tax rate from year to year. Bettencourt generally recommends property tax rate cuts up to this prudent limit, but not above this figure. In the case of Harris County, that would be no more than 3.41 cents. In the case of the City of Houston, that’s 4.119 cents unless modified by the effect of Proposition One, which was passed by the voters in 2004.

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