Politics & Finances

TX Commissioner Who Blocked Tax Vote Speaks Out, Defends Choice

TX Commissioner Who Blocked Tax Vote Speaks Out, Defends Choice

Harris County, Texas Commissioner Tom Ramsey has spoken out to defend his decision to block a property tax vote that could have resulted in millions of dollars of new revenue.

Ramsey spoke to Houston's local ABC affiliate Channel 13, saying, "I didn't show up because there was never an option other than the quarter of a billion-dollar tax revenue increase."

The outlet noted that various county agencies said the funds from the levy would have been used to construct new medical offices, hire law enforcement cadets, and expand publicly funded flood mitigation services.

Both Ramsey and fellow Commissioner Jack Cagle — for the sixth time this budget season — skipped Tuesday's Commissioners Court meeting on the county tax rate," according to Axios Houston.

Axios went on to share that the duo "effectively killed" the aforementioned proposal that would have levied a tax rate of 57.5 cents per $100 of property valuation. The county's Office of Administration confirmed that Tuesday, October 25 was the last day the court could have approved the measure. 

County Judge Lina Hidalgo took to Twitter to share her opinion, sparking a massive debate on the social media platform. She wrote:

Commissioners Cagle & Ramsey talked a big game about Backing the Blue, but when it mattered today when there was an opportunity to boost $100M in funding for law enforcement *as part of a tax rate CUT* they failed to show up. They were MIA.

Commenters weighed in, with some expressing support for Judge Hidalgo and others believing that the situation was, at least in part, her fault. 

The judge is currently in a close re-election race against opponent Alexandra del Moral Mealer. The Houston Chronicle shared this week that the race is a "dead heat."

As for Ramsey, when ABC 13 asked if the Commissioner would be returning his county paycheck, he responded, "My job is not defined by that. My job is doing things out in my precinct. I go to court. That's just one of many, many things I do."

GOP Commissioner Ramsey also indicated his seat would not be empty at the next scheduled meeting.

What do you think about the Republican Commissioners' actions?

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Rebekah Barton

Rebekah Barton

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