Average Houston Home’s 2005 Property Tax Bill To Rise 7.5%
Bettencourt Seeks Tax Relief To Help Offset 118% Tax Increase Over Past Eight Years

HOUSTON – October 17, 2005 – An analysis by Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt shows that county residents will again lose more income to property taxes this year, with ballooning property values and tax rates combining for a 7.5% tax increase on an average Houston area home.

“The average Houston-area taxpayer has seen his or her tax bill go up by 118 percent in the past eight years,” said Bettencourt. “That’s about $1,800 a year less for taxpayers trying to pay mortgages, rising utility and fuel bills and trying to pay for their children’s education. This year alone, the average Houston area homeowner will pay nearly $235 more, a debt that will remain on their tax bill year after year.”

The Tax Office analysis shows that the average Houston-area homestead was worth about $79,535 in 1997, with the owner paying $1,546 in property taxes to the city, county, HISD and other entities. Because of rising property values, that home would be appraised at $141,668 in 2005, and the owner’s tax burden would have increased to $3,373.

Bettencourt has written to and will appear before city, county, HISD and Houston Community College officials in the coming weeks to request they lower their property tax rates to help ease the burden on their constituents.

“Hard-working taxpayers throughout this county are now struggling to keep their homes because their property tax bills have become overwhelming,” said Bettencourt. “The facts are clear. Taxes go up every year. The question is, what are we going to do about it?”

The analysis also shows that local governments have been able to slide through a “stealth tax increase” by relying on escalating property values while refusing to lower tax rates. As the graph above illustrates, one cent of the county’s tax rate produced about $12 million in 1997. That same penny in 2005 produces more than $20.3 million, a 64 percent increase.

Bettencourt has provided copies of his analysis to representatives of various governmental entities and is encouraging interested taxpayers to attend upcoming public hearings to let their representatives know their views on rising tax bills. The HISD Board of Trustees approved a 2-cent property tax increase last week. Harris County Commissioners Court has proposed maintaining the same tax rate and will hold a public hearing October 18. Houston City Council also has proposed maintaining its tax rate and will hold a public hearing October 19. The Houston Community College System will hold a public hearing on its proposed tax rate October 20.

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