Tag Archives: property taxes

Should we appeal the zombie ReBuild lawsuit ruling?

Posted on July 9, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Controller Hollins says no. Mayor Whitmire seems likely to go ahead anyway. Houston Controller Chris Hollins has warned Mayor John Whitmire’s administration about potential financial challenges the city could face if it were to appeal a state appellate court ruling … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Should we appeal the zombie ReBuild lawsuit ruling?

Appeals court declines to block zombie ReBuild lawsuit ruling

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

That means the city is still on the hook for a bunch more money to be allocated to drainage projects. Which the just-adopted budget didn’t account for. A state appellate court on Tuesday rejected the city of Houston’s request to … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Appeals court declines to block zombie ReBuild lawsuit ruling

It’s Greg Abbott’s fault if your school district is facing a budget crunch

Posted on June 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

News item #1: Houston-area school districts brace for big budget cuts. Staring down a $100 million deficit budget, even after deciding to close three campuses in February, Aldine ISD trustees have a difficult decision to make this week. Voting on … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Mayor Whitmire unveils his first budget

Posted on May 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Here ya go. Amid Houston’s strained financial outlook, Mayor John Whitmire unveiled a $6.7 billion budget proposal on Tuesday, announcing he does not intend to raise taxes or significantly cut city services during the fiscal year starting in July. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mayor Whitmire unveils his first budget

One last pre-election look at those Appraisal Board elections

Posted on May 4, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

From the Trib, which did the initial reporting that informed me of these dumb new elections in the first place. The new law requires only counties with more than 75,000 residents to hold the elections, a designation that applies to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Zombie ReBuild lawsuit returns with a vengeance

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Unbelievable. Houston City Hall will have to use significantly more tax money to fight flooding with street and drainage projects, after an appeals court sided Tuesday with engineers in a years-long lawsuit over how much funding the city devotes to … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Good luck finding any info about those county appraisal board elections

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I’ve written a bunch about the HCAD Board elections, including doing interviews with four of the candidates, so that you my readers and anyone else who stumbles across this page can hopefully know a little something about … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Chron covers the HCAD elections

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

At long, long last. Most Houston-area property owners likely are unaware that the amount of taxes they owe is decided, in part, by a group of local appraisers overseen by a little-known board of directors. But for the first time … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Still waiting on details for paying the firefighters

Posted on April 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

A lot of the same stuff we’ve heard before here, but a little bit more details. Houston Mayor John Whitmire detailed his last three months as the fourth-largest city’s top boss and outlined some of his ongoing projects in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Hey look, it’s a story about the HCAD elections

Posted on April 6, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

About damn time. A question you are unlikely to hear at any bar, diner or dinner table over the next month: Who are you voting for the county appraisal district board? Few area residents are aware of the election, even … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

We have our HCAD candidates

Posted on February 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Here they are, from the County Judge’s office: Place 1 Ramsey Isa Ankar Katherine Ballard Blueford-Daniels Era N. Ford William Reinhardt Frazier Place 2 Jevon German Janice W. Hines Melissa Louise Noriega Austin Ryan Pooley Kyle Anthony Scott Place 3 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on We have our HCAD candidates

We have HCAD candidates

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I promised you last week I would check again to see who if anyone had filed for those new HCAD Board Member positions. Here I deliver on that promise. I inquired again with the County Judge’s office, and was given … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

HCAD candidate filing update

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, remember how I said I was going to check and see if we had any candidates for those newly to-be-elected positions on the HCAD Board of Trustees? Well, I checked, and as of yesterday afternoon no one had applied … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Do we have any HCAD candidates yet?

Posted on February 4, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Campos summarizes our forthcoming election calendar. Most folks here in Harris County are gearing up for the political party primaries on Super Tuesday, March 5 with early voting in person beginning on Tuesday, February 20. Heck, Commentary already sent in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

We’re going to be electing what now?

Posted on January 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I had no idea about this. It sure wasn’t covered in the runup to this past election. In a state known for too many elections, there’s another one coming to Texas’ 50 largest counties. This May, voters in those most … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023, Election 2024, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Republicans finally agree on a property tax cut

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Our moderate-length semi-statewide bit of unpleasantness is coming to an end. Probably. The $18 billion compromise between the Texas House and Senate — which includes more than $5 billion approved for relief in 2021 — would give increased tax relief … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Republicans finally agree on a property tax cut

Latest ReBuild lawsuit dismissed

Posted on July 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

One less thing for the next Mayor to worry about. I hope. A district court judge has ruled in favor of Houston leaders in a 4-year-old lawsuit, countering allegations that Mayor Sylvester Turner and the City Council illegally shortchanged the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Latest ReBuild lawsuit dismissed

How Harris County has spent COVID relief funds

Posted on July 8, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

A lot of good stuff here. Harris County has received around $1.8 billion in federal aid to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, a staggering sum that provided struggling residents with immediate emergency relief, has kept county services running and is fueling … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

City passes Mayor Turner’s final budget

Posted on June 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready, whoever is up next. Houston city staff will see pay raises, money will go toward sidewalk repairs and residents won’t have to maintain their own drainage ditches anymore. All are part of the $6.2 billion budget that passed through Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Mayor Turner’s final budget

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

This is what he’s handing off. Mayor Sylvester Turner will unveil a $6.2 billion budget proposal this week, the final spending plan of his tenure and one he predicts will have enough savings to cover his successor’s first budget gap. … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mayor Turner’s final budget

How was there still an active lawsuit over the 2004 revenue cap referendum?

Posted on April 22, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I am gobsmacked. The Texas Supreme Court on Friday struck down part of Houston’s revenue cap, creating the possibility that the city may have to comply with an even more stringent cap in the future. Elected officials in Houston long have blamed … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How was there still an active lawsuit over the 2004 revenue cap referendum?

Hegar caves on phony “defunding” claim again

Posted on April 4, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Clown the Comptroller II: Electric Boogaloo. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Monday backed off his claim that Harris County “defunded” a constable’s office in violation of a state law intended to prevent cities and counties from cutting their police budgets, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Hegar caves on phony “defunding” claim again

Court blocks phony “defunding” claim again

Posted on March 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: A Travis County District Court temporarily blocked Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s determination that Harris County defunded the Precinct 5 Constable’s office in violation of state law. The order means the Comptroller’s determination as to Harris County’s budget … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Court blocks phony “defunding” claim again

HISD facing budget cuts

Posted on February 20, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Gonna be a rough couple of years. Amid declining enrollment and a looming $215 million deficit, the Houston ISD is eyeing budget cuts that would slash funding to the central administration and cut campus budgets, especially at high schools. The … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD facing budget cuts

Harris County votes to sue Hegar again

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Phony Defunding Claims II: Electric Boogaloo. Harris County Commissioners Court on Thursday voted to sue Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar‘s office in response to his comments accusing the county of defunding law enforcement. Hegar’s claim is a repeat of a fight that already played out between the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Harris County votes to sue Hegar again

Here we go again with the “defunding” baloney

Posted on February 13, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I was all set to have a peaceful weekend when I came across a press release from Commissioner Ellis’ office on Friday afternoon about this. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Friday accused Harris County of defunding law enforcement, rekindling a feud from … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Our property tax system is soooooooo awesome!

Posted on November 26, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

How awesome is it? So awesome you don’t even have to live here to get a tax break. Herschel Walker, the former Dallas Cowboys running back and Republican candidate running for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia, is slated to … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A few words from Judge Hidalgo

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Plus a few words that she could have said but didn’t, which I will fill in. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who narrowly won re-election last week over a strong push from GOP candidates and donors, outlined plans for her … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Here’s the result of the Republican Commissioners’ budget busting

Posted on November 4, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The Republican minority on Commissioners Court made this happen. Harris County will eliminate more than 500 vacant jobs, delay some flood control projects, postpone a sheriff deputy cadet class, and cancel raises and cost of living adjustments for county law … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ramsey and Cagle finish sabotaging the budget

Posted on October 26, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

They got what they wanted. Harris County’s prolonged political battle over the budget came to an end today. For over a month, the two GOP members of Commissioners Court have broken quorum, skipping meetings to prevent Democrats from passing their … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Republican Commissioners skip the meeting they called

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

On brand. So very on brand. The two Republican members of Harris County Commissioners Court have announced they will skip a special meeting Monday to discuss a compromise tax rate proposal by Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, reversing the position they took … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

There may be a county budget deal available

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t trust anything Commissioners Cagle and Ramsey say, but we’ll see. The two Republican members of Harris County Commissioners Court said Friday they would attend a special meeting Monday to discuss a compromise tax rate proposal by Precinct 2 … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Just keep staying away, Commissioners

Posted on October 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

At this point the pattern is clear. They’re just going to keep staying away, at least until after the election. At which point one can hope that one of them will have a more permanent vacation from these duties. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

We could maybe vote on a piece of the stupid revenue cap next year

Posted on October 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Yippie. Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday he will ask voters in 2023 to amend the city’s cap on property tax revenue to allow for more public safety spending, as the council cut the city’s tax rate for the eighth time … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments