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2 clusters · 3 sources · 21 days · First seen 30 days ago · Last updated 9 days ago

Texas municipal and county budget challenges

Overview

Several Texas municipalities and counties are addressing significant budget shortfalls and rising costs through proposed tax increases and spending adjustments.

In August 2026, Harris County officials proposed a budget increase of approximately $327 million to avoid a $218 million shortfall, which could result in a 12.3% rise in property taxes for average homeowners. Meanwhile, San Antonio proposed revising or adding nearly 150 city fees to address a $157.7 million deficit, and Bexar County leaders considered an austere $2.6 billion budget aimed at avoiding tax increases by utilizing rainy day funds.

By September 2026, Harris County commissioners continued reviewing a $3.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 to combat a projected $181 million deficit caused by healthcare costs and reduced federal funding. In Montgomery County, commissioners approved a $546 million budget that includes a property tax rate increase to fund law enforcement pay parity, employee raises, and infrastructure projects necessitated by population growth.

Entities

Harris County · Erica Lee Carter · Montgomery County · Bexar County · Mark Keough

Timeline

9 days ago

[BUSINESS] 3 sources
Texas counties Harris and Montgomery propose new budgets and tax increases
Texas counties Harris and Montgomery are implementing new budgets for fiscal year 2027, involving property tax increases and employee pay raises to manage deficits and rapid population growth.
30 days ago

[BUSINESS] 4 sources
Texas municipalities propose tax and fee increases to address budget gaps
Texas municipalities, including Harris County, San Antonio, and Bexar County, are proposing tax increases, fee hikes, and spending cuts to address budget shortfalls and infrastructure needs.

Sources

abc13.com · fox26houston.com · houstonpublicmedia.org