The Houston Independent School District (HISD) Board of Managers is set to vote Wednesday on a proposal to raise the property tax rate by nearly three cents per $100 of taxable property value, according to a draft resolution.
The move would use what Texas law calls “disaster pennies” — a provision that allows school districts to recover from disaster-related expenses without voter approval. HISD incurred millions in repair costs following Hurricane Beryl last year.
If approved, the district’s tax rate would increase from $0.8489 to $0.8783 per $100 of property value.
- $0.7116 would go toward operational costs
- $0.1667 would cover bond debt (interest and sinking rate)
The district previously said it did not plan to use disaster pennies, but mounting storm-related expenses have changed the picture. HISD has not disclosed how much new revenue the proposed increase would generate.
According to district documents, Hurricane Beryl caused an estimated $9.4 million in damages, while the May derecho storm earlier that year added $6.4 million in costs.
HISD has been working with its facilities, maintenance, and operations team to assess the full extent of the damage and is pursuing insurance claims and FEMA assistance. In a statement to board members, the district said:
“We have submitted claims through our insurance provider and applied for FEMA assistance to cover storm-related damages. In addition, we are investigating other potential funding opportunities beyond FEMA, including state emergency grants and federal disaster relief programs.”
Repair projects already underway include roof replacements at Park Place Elementary School and at 10725 Mesa Street near North Forest High School, according to district records.
HISD officials caution that the insurance process may take years. For reference, the district’s claim from Hurricane Harvey in 2017 wasn’t finalized until 2024, according to Alexis Licata, HISD’s Deputy Chief of Finance and Operation
