Harris County Board of Education holds public hearing on proposed 18.5-mill property tax rate

Harris County — The Harris County Board of Education held a public hearing Aug. 14 on the district’s proposed property tax millage rate of 18.5 mills, a figure the board described as a tentative adoption that would represent a 15.44% increase over the rollback rate of 16.025 mills.

“As chair of the Harris County Board of Education, I'd like to formally call this public hearing to order,” the chair said, noting the hearing was the first of several opportunities for public comment required by law. The board opened a series of meetings so residents could speak about the “tentative adoption” of the 18.5-mill rate and its likely impact on household taxes.

The hearing drew more than a dozen speakers who raised questions about the budget process, whether the district had already contracted for new construction, who would bear the cost of the increase and whether the district could cut spending instead. Jamie Saxon of 285 Rosewood Drive asked whether the district already had a contract for a new school; the district replied it had not reached that contracting stage and was still in capital outlay planning and site assessment.

Dr. Finney, identified in the meeting as a district official, outlined the district’s fiscal situation and state mandates that the board said are driving budget pressure. He told attendees that the district is highly rated academically — “we are number 4 out of 180 school districts in the state” on college and career readiness metrics — but has relatively low reserve balances. He said recent state mandates and cost increases have added roughly $1 million each in several categories, including higher employer health-insurance contributions and increased employer contributions to the Teacher Retirement System (TRS).

Using examples, district officials explained how the millage increase would translate into household impact. The board said the proposed increase would add roughly $320 per year on a homesteaded home with a fair market value of $400,000 (taxed on 40% of assessed value) and about $200 for a non‑homesteaded property valued at $250,000.

Residents also pressed the board on priorities. Pamela Pendergrass, of 215 Longleaf Way, criticized some proposed or recent spending — including an indoor practice football field mentioned by speakers — and urged the board to prioritize measures that would not increase burdens on low‑income families and seniors living on fixed incomes. Several speakers urged the board to seek more commercial and industrial growth to broaden the tax base and reduce pressure on residential property owners.

Board members and district staff answered questions about the equalization grant, a state funding program that provided the district with about $3 million this year but which officials said is uncertain for next year. The superintendent said equalization funding is determined by the state and can fluctuate; the district received $2.7 million one year and $3.7 million the next, officials said, and they warned not to assume that funding will continue.

Officials described long‑term needs the board cited as drivers of the tax proposal: rising personnel costs mandated or affected by state actions, transportation and food service costs for roughly 3,000 students, maintenance of eight campuses (described variously as eight buildings or seven schools on eight campuses), and planning for future school construction. The district said it could apply for state capital outlay funding in coming years but that state reimbursement rates for construction are low compared with local construction costs (the district said the state pays about $80 per square foot while local construction costs run substantially higher).

The board reiterated the public hearing schedule and encouraged input; officials said the board had held prior hearings (Aug. 7 and an Aug. 14 morning session) and planned another on Aug. 19. The meeting concluded without a final vote on the millage rate during the Aug. 14 evening session.

Votes and formal motions during the session were limited to internal meeting procedure: the board approved the special-session meeting agenda at the start of the session and later approved an adjournment motion. The board’s tentative millage figure of 18.5 mills was described by the chair as already tentatively adopted and was the focus of the hearing and public comment.

The board said it will continue to accept public comment at the remaining scheduled hearings before taking any final action on the millage rate.