Houston, TX – As the principal author of Senate Bill 2, Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) weighs in on the use of the no-new-revenue-tax-rate and what it means to county property tax revenues. The no-new-revenue-tax-rate means no growth on last year's 2021 property tax levy, but allows for new growth of 72 million dollars for all four taxing units set by the Harris County Commissioners Court. Judge Hidalgo tweeted about a 45 million 'deficit' in the Hospital District.

"Despite a record potential 245 million dollar savings to Harris County Taxpayers, Judge Hidalgo is trying to blame property tax rates for a supposed 45 million dollar 'deficit' in the Harris County Hospital District," said Senator Bettencourt. "The truth is the Hospital District will receive an estimated 20 million MORE property tax revenue dollars in 2022 than in 2021 using the no-new- revenue-tax-rate."

The chart below shows the estimated property tax levies in 2021 and the effect of using the no-new-revenue-tax-rate in 2022, if mailed out on property tax bills this fall.

Therefore, the four county tax units are getting a total of 72.6 million more dollars of estimated new revenue, and it is simply not a 'deficit' anywhere! Also, Harris County has a 1.3 billion dollars unexpended balance plus the Hospital District has 1.1 billion dollars in unrestricted funds according to the February 28, 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) actual references.

"If Judge Hidalgo is wondering about combined county account balances of 2.4 billion dollars in unexpended balances, what 'deficit' can't be funded?" Senator Bettencourt concluded. "This must be a spending problem not a revenue problem, and Judge Hidalgo shouldn't be twisting the truth."

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