Archived Photo 2019

Through a unanimous vote, Harris County Department of Education’s Board of Trustees voted to lower the tax rate for a sixth consecutive year. The board adopted the recommended rate of $0.004993, a slight decrease from the current $.0050 tax rate.

For a home valued at $200,000, the adopted rate of $0.004993 means the average Harris County homeowner would pay HCDE less than $9 a year in property taxes for education services.

Archived photo

Following the vote, HCDE Board President Eric Dick praised the move and support of his fellow board members.

“This shows that we are being good stewards of the county’s money, especially during a pandemic,” he said.

HCDE provides wraparound services to both school districts and the general public through afterschool programs, school-based therapy services, adult education, Head Start and four specialty schools. Additional services such as a national purchasing cooperative give school districts buying power. Educators also benefit from professional development and leadership training supplied by HCDE.

Archived Photo 2019

Superintendent James Colbert Jr. said creating a leaner budget allowed for the continuation of HCDE’s conservative adopted tax rate.

“Our business model has allowed us to continue to reduce the tax rate,” County School Superintendent James Colbert Jr. said. “That’s a testament to the quality of services provided to our clients.”

For more information about HCDE’s impact and local support of education, visit www.hcde-texas.org .