Turner: State to blame for tax hike

Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday that he would not have proposed a property tax hike if lawmakers in Austin dipped into the state’s reserve funds to pay for damage from Hurricane Harvey.

Turner is currently asking for a temporary rate increase that would amount to an extra $48 annually for the owner of a $225,000 home, according to city estimates. The roughly $50 million raised from an increase would then be used for debris cleanup, and building and equipment repairs, among other things.

But at a public meeting to discuss the proposal Monday night, Turner and others said the increase would not be necessary if state lawmakers immediately tapped into Texas’ $10 billion rainy day fund — a claim rebuked by a top lawmaker in attendance.

Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Republican from Houston, has previously called the tax hike proposal “beyond tone deaf,” and has questioned the accuracy of the city’s estimates on rate hikes for homeowners. He said Monday that the city can afford to fund short-term expenses without raising property taxes.

“I don’t think we should be kicking Houstonians when they’re down,” Bettencourt said.

The city has already exhausted its own $20 million reserve fund, and is now facing a $26 million bill for debris cleanup alone.

“We can’t wait two years to get (the requested funding) into the budget,” said Councilman Jack Christie. “We need it in 30 days.”

“That’s all we’re asking,” he said. “It’s a rainy day fund. And Senator (Bettencourt), it’s pouring.”

The remarks are among the strongest from area officials of the decision not to tap Texas’ reserve funds in the wake of Harvey, which will likely be one of the costliest natural disasters in American history.

State, local and federal lawmakers from the area are also pursuing funding for upgrades at the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, and are mulling a long-sought “coastal spine” to protect the area from large storm surges.

Pressed by Turner, Bettencourt said area lawmakers “need to do whatever we can” to secure money for those projects. But he would not commit to allocating money from the rainy day fund.

“Everyone has to look at their own resources to start with,” Bettencourt said. “The reality is that we’re going to look at this holistically.”

The next two public hearings on the tax proposal will be held at City Hall at 6 p.m. on Oct. 2, and 9 a.m. on Oct. 11.