Harris County GOP commissioners no-show again, extending battle over tax rate and budget

Republicans Tom Ramsey of Precinct 3 and Jack Cagle of Precinct 4 skipped Tuesday's Commissioners Court meeting as part of an ongoing battle of political wills that could extend until the deadline for approving a tax rate passes at the end of October. The decision prompted the three Democrats on Harris County Commissioners Court to go into an executive session to discuss with the County Attorney's office whether they have legal options to compel the two missing commissioners to attend. Hidalgo had little to report after the session but said the County Attorney's office is researching options. The court will consider the tax rate again at its next meeting on Oct. 11, potentially forcing the two Republican commissioners to make a similar decision next month if they have not reached a compromise by then.

County Judge Lina Hidalgo opened the meeting alternately lambasting Ramsey and Cagle's absence and lamenting the potential impacts of the county's inability to approve its proposed tax rate. "Our hospital system will operate at a $45 million deficit," Hidalgo said. "A cadet class will be at risk." State law requires four members of the court be present to set the property tax rate. By skipping the Sept. 13 meeting, Ramsey and Cagle compelled Hidalgo, Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia and Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis to adopt a budget based on what is known as the no new revenue rate, a levy that brings in the same amount of tax revenue as last year from existing property, along with an additional $44.7 million from property added to the tax rolls this year. By boycotting the vote, the two Republicans on the court prevented the three Democrats from passing a plan that included around $100 million in additional general fund spending, much of it spread across county law enforcement agencies. The court had planned to consider an overall property tax rate of 57.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. That included a county rate of 36 cents per $100 of assessed value, enough to support the proposed $2.24 billion maintenance and operations budget.