Mayor Turner Proposes 12-Month Tax Increase For Harvey Recovery

HOUSTON, TX — Mayor Sylvester Turner is proposing a temporary tax increase of 8.9 percent that he says will help with recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey.

The increase, which would only be for 12 months if it is approved by the Houston City Council, would raise about $113 million toward the city’s recovery. (Want to get daily news updates and news of other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

The proposal comes as many whose homes were flooded are still working to remove debris and assess the damage through their insurance companies, and through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The proposal, if it is ultimately approved by the city council, would go into effect in January 2018, and would increase property tax values from 58.64 cents per $100 valuation, to 63.87 cents, or about $117 per year on a home valued at $225,000.

The money from this tax would be used to cover expenses that won’t be fully covered by FEMA for issues such as debris removal, or the replacement of more than 300 city-owned vehicles lost during the flood.

Right now, the city is expecting about 80 to 90 percent reimbursement from FEMA, which means the city has to come up with the remainder of the cost of rebuilding.

The city plans three public meetings on the proposed tax increase later this month, and in October, with a final vote by the city council coming at the end of October.

Image: Sylvester Turner, mayor of Houston, speaks during an interview in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Jan. 26, 2016. Turner said Houston isn't ready to boost property taxes even as it considers extending repayment of its debt and works to plug its more than $5 billion pension shortfall. Photographer: Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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