HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Changes are set to impact a portion of Rice Village after the approval of a million-dollar bond, according to our partners at the Houston Chronicle.
The Chronicle also reported that only 4 of 12 eligible voters cast ballots, and experts said some people may be unaware they can vote on this type of measure.
“It could be considered an invincible government because it’s so low-profile, most people don’t know they live in a special district,” University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs professor James Thurmond said.
The bond will levy a property tax on the area of Rice Village from Times to University Blvd. and Kirby Drive to Greenbriar, according to the Chronicle; it’s a staggering rate of exactly $1.50 per $100 of assessed property value.
Officials with Rice told ABC13 it’s for the current state of water, sewer, drainage, and road infrastructure in the area, which they said is very poor.
They also told ABC13 that all the impacted property is currently owned by Rice University and managed through its Rice Real Estate Company division.
“To tell you the truth, the risk all belongs to the developer. They got to put — they have to front the money for everything and then the debts issued to reimburse the developer and then the property owners start paying their taxes will pay – their taxes will retire the debt, and only in that district, it only affects that district.”
Thurmond added that there are over a thousand special districts in Houston, and this is a way to get things done across the city.
“In a way, instead of an entire jurisdiction paying for something that benefits one neighborhood, you have the neighborhood paying for it that benefits directly. So, in a way, it’s a way of getting something done without having to tax everybody in the you know in the in the city or the county or something.”
Rice officials told ABC13 the timeline for the next steps is unclear right now.
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