ON THE ISSUES
Transparent Appraisals & Appeals
Open and fair reporting of appraisals
Quality & Affordable Housing
Prioritize the well-being of Harris County residents
Representation
Ensure that Harris County are part of the decision making that impact their everyday lives and residents' concerns are addressed
Invest for the Future
Making investments in education and expanding economic opportunities will position Harris County for the future
MORE ON THE ISSUES
Appraisals and Appeals
Transparency is crucial. Many homeowners feel left in the dark about how their property values are determined. This is leading to an overwhelming number of protests. In addition, residents with fixed income or generational homes are facing risks of losing their homes. I realized that if I cannot understand the property tax system as a former tax professional, who could? Certainly not the average homeowner.
Harris Central Appraisal District property tax protests exceed protests at any other Texas county. any other U.S. appraisal district. HCAD had 453,842 tax protests in 2021. Tarrant County had the second highest level of protests with 148,004 property tax protests and Dallas was third with 147,665 protests in 2021 (most recent year data).
In addition, the 10% cap on appraisals have looked more like floors to along of residents. On average, home appraisals increased 25% in 2022 and another 18% in 2023. This is very unsustainable for most homeowners and businesses, putting ownership out of reach for many people.
By implementing clearer guidelines and providing accessible information about the factors influencing appraisals, we can empower property owners to better understand and navigate the process. My goals as a homeowner, business owner, AWS employee, mother, and citizen is to use my abilities to represent others by trying to reform the property tax appraisal system to ensure transparency, affordability, and sustainability.
Housing
The potential impact of appraisal values in resulting tax bills to the bottomline for homeowners and small business owners and the unpredictability of their bills is contributing to cost of living impact across the county. This is leading to micro living at macro costs.
The consecutive cost increases over the past two years have posed significant financial challenges for our middle-class families. This situation is concerning and requires immediate attention to ensure sustainable and affordable homeownership and apartment costs in Harris County.
I am dedicated to exploring alternative solutions, such as benchmarking to other cities with and without income taxes to learn other ways of generating sustainable tax revenues without overburdening home owners. This will prioritize the financial well-being of our residents and work towards a more stable and prosperous future for all.
Representative
Harris County embody a rich tapestry of Texas residents and communities. I am committed to actively opening the Board of Directors to people from diverse economic backgrounds, from senior citizens to gen Z – we can energize our county to ensure it works for all. This inclusive approach fosters unity and strength, driving economic growth and prosperity for all Harris County residents.
Economic Growth
I will advocate for and collaborate with other government agencies to revitalize underserved communities, not dis-incentivize it with our appraisal system. Additionally, I will continue champion initiatives that promote financial literacy and access to capital for small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs as I've done with the HBS Community Partners Program. Through these investments, we strive to build a vibrant and inclusive economy in Harris County.