Harris County Commissioners Court today voted unanimously to adopt 2012 property tax rates for the county, the Harris County Flood Control District, the Port of Houston Authority and the Harris County Hospital District, maintaining the same tax rate of $0.62998 per $100 valuation as adopted in 2011.

While the county’s overall tax rate remained unchanged, changes were made in the various rates that make up the total.

The county increased its tax rate from $0.39117 to $0.40021 per $100 valuation.  The county’s general fund taxes were reduced to $0.32798 per $100 valuation from $0.33221.  However, the public contingency fund tax rate increased from $0.00223 to $0.00473 per $100 valuation, and the debt service fund, which the county uses to generate revenues for payments on its bonded indebtedness, increased from $0.05673 to $0.06750.

The Harris County Flood Control District maintained a tax rate of $0.2809 per $100 valuation.  However, $0.00205 was shifted from the district’s general fund to its debt service fund, placing the general fund tax rate at $0.02522 in 2012, and the debt service rate at $0.00287 per $100 valuation.

The Port of Houston received a slight tax rate increase, moving to $0.01952 per $100 valuation from the 2011 rate of $0.01856.

The Harris County Hospital District reduced its tax rate for 2012 from $0.19216 in 2011 to $0.18216.

The commissioners court voted unanimously to accept a $6,987,017 total award from the Texas Governor’s Department of Public Safety as part of the 2012 Homeland Security Grant Program for the Urban Areas Security Initiative and UASI-Law Enforcement-Oriented Terrorism Prevention Activities programs.

The grant requires no cash match from the county.

A change to a contract with Brooks Concrete, Inc. for infrastructure improvements at various locations in Taylor Lake Village to reduce the contract by $171,704 was withdrawn from the agenda.

A final payment to Brooks Concrete and Fence, Inc. for repairs of concrete pavement, curbs, driveways, sidewalks and related items in the Wade Road Camp area was withdrawn from the agenda.

The commissioners court met in executive session to discuss the status of litigation in the case of James Rodriguez, et al vs. Harris County, et al in United States District Court.  No action was taken regarding the matter.

The commissioners court voted unanimously to adopt a resolution commending Harris County Water and Soil Conservation District No. 442 as the Outstanding Conservation District in the State of Texas.

All other items were approved by unanimous vote.  All members were present.  Agenda