How the Fort Bend County commissioners' boycott could impact homeowners' property taxes
RICHMOND, Texas (KTRK) -- If boycotting Fort Bend County commissioners don't return to vote on a tax rate, the financial director said that'll mean homeowners will see tax relief.
PREVIOUS REPORT: Fort Bend County commissioners boycott could soon impact the county's finances
On Thursday, commissioners passed a tax rate proposal. If passed in September, the tax rate would be 42 cents per $100 of appraised value.
In order to pass the tax rate, staff told commissioners there needs to be four commissioners present. There haven't been four commissioners in nearly two months.
The two Democratic members, Commissioners Grady Prestage and Dexter McCoy, have boycotted meetings with legal questions surrounding interim Judge Daniel Wong. The county attorney took Wong to court after a civil complaint that put him in the office was dropped.
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The case is scheduled to have key hearings in October and a trial in November, as the budget is supposed to be in place. If there aren't enough commissioners, the finance director told ABC13, a no-new-review tax rate of about 40.5 cents would go into place.
Here's what that means for homeowners. The finance director said the average homestead taxable value of $322,324 paid $1,360 in county property taxes from last year's budget. If a no-new-revenue rate is adopted, the finance director said that homeowner would pay $1,330.
If the 2026 proposed rate is approved, that homeowner would pay $1,384, which is $54 more than the no-new-revenue rate. It may be good for homeowners, but commissioners said if they can't set the proposed rate, it'll mean less money for projects and employee raises.
The finance director told ABC13' that if commissioners can't vote on the proposed rate, it'll mean a loss of $21.3 million.
