Harris County homeowners could see their property tax bills climb next year after commissioners take up a proposed 7.6% rate increase at a special meeting Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The county's Office of Management and Budget proposed a combined tax rate of about $0.67 per $100 of property valuation, up from $0.62, covering all four entities the Commissioners Court oversees: the county, Harris County Flood Control District, Harris Health System and Port of Houston Authority. Community Impact Newspaper first reported the agenda details. Houston Public Media reported the proposal would be the highest tax increase in two decades.

Homeowners in Friendswood, Webster, Seabrook, Nassau Bay and Clear Lake Shores would feel the increase directly. Because the proposed rate exceeds the state comptroller's cap for court-approved increases, voters countywide would decide the matter on the November ballot if commissioners approve it.

The county faces a $181 million budget shortfall heading into fiscal year 2026-27. Budget Director Daniel Ramos told commissioners Aug. 18 that $89 million of the gap comes from healthcare costs alone. The county assumed a 6% increase last year but saw closer to 15%, KHOU reported.

Harris County spends $1.2 million per day on free health insurance for nearly 46,000 employees and retirees, according to an ABC13 investigation published Sept. 2. Payroll costs have jumped 51% since 2022 while the workforce grew 13%, ABC13 found.

Commissioners are split on how to close the gap.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said Sept. 1 that the state forced the county into a structural deficit, making it harder to serve families. He plans to request $4.5 million for community safety programs at the Sept. 8 meeting. About 80% of the county's revenue comes from property taxes, Ellis said.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey is pushing in the opposite direction. At a Sept. 3 press conference, Ramsey said he wants a flat tax rate and will propose eliminating the Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART), a program that sends unarmed responders to non-emergency 911 calls.

"I believe we could pass a flat tax rate this year, if we focus [on] funding statutory responsibilities and stop expanding government services and bureaucracy," Ramsey said.

Ramsey's office has called the shortfall a spending problem, not a revenue problem, pointing to roughly $500 million in what it described as non-statutory expenses.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said Friday, Sept. 4 that her office is still working on cost-saving proposals before the vote. She did not say how she plans to vote.

Also on the Sept. 8 agenda: a proposed 30% pay raise for County Treasurer Carla Wyatt. An all-citizen salary grievance committee recommended Aug. 20 that her pay increase from $139,547 to $181,411 annually. The raise would follow pay bumps commissioners approved in August for 13 other elected officials, who will earn $305,000 a year. Commissioners are also seeking legislative approval to eliminate the treasurer's office permanently.

The Commissioners Court must adopt a budget and set tax rates by Sept. 17. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. The Sept. 8 meeting starts at 9 a.m. at 1001 Preston St. in Houston and will be livestreamed at agenda.harriscountytx.gov.