Houston to consider 2-cent cut in property tax rate

Stock image of Houston City Hall Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, in downtown Houston. Stock image of Houston City Hall Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, in downtown Houston. Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff / Houston Chronicle Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Houston to consider 2-cent cut in property tax rate 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

City Council could cut Houston’s property tax rate for the fourth time in five years under a proposal advanced by the Turner administration Wednesday.

The rate recommended by the city Finance Department is 56.8 cents per $100 of assessed value. That would represent a two-cent cut from the current rate of 58.8 cents.

Council could vote on the rate as soon as Sept. 11. Wednesday’s vote was simply to put the proposed rate on next week’s council agenda.

Under the proposed rate, the owner of a $250,000 home with a standard homestead exemption could expect to pay about $40 less than the previous year.

The city adopted a nominal property tax rate increase last year — less than 1 percent — its first hike in two decades.

robert.downen@chron.com