Houston Chronicle by Zach Despart Oct. 8, 2019
Radack, Cagle skip meeting, thwarting Dem-led effort to raise Harris County tax rate
Two Harris County Commissioners Court members skipped Tuesday’s meeting to prevent the Democratic majority from voting on a property tax rate hike that would increase revenue by 8 percent.
Republican commissioners Steve Radack and Jack Cagle were absent when County Judge Lina Hidalgo gaveled in the session at 10:03 a.m. A staff member for Cagle placed a two-foot stack of constituent comments at his place on the dais, indicating their widespread opposition to the tax increase.
Without a vote, Harris County will revert to the effective tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year, which will collect more than $195 million less than the rate Democrats had proposed, according to county budget analysts.
Texas law requires a quorum of four members, rather than the usual three, for votes setting tax rates. That exception provided rare power to Radack and Cagle, who repeatedly have lost close votes to their three Democratic colleagues this year.
More:
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Radack-Cagle-skip-meeting-thwarting-Dem-led-14501329.php
