Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is cutting in half his proposed post-Harvey temporary tax.
Turner says he’ll seek about $50 million in property tax revenues for storm recovery – slashing his original proposal of a 9 percent to generate $110 million. That money was to be used for emergency purposes, the mayor said.
He made the announcement Wednesday after a backlash from the original plan.
Turner told Houston City Council members that FEMA reimbursement rates are higher than expected.
According to City Hall, the revised tax proposal would cost about $4 more per month for a house worth $225,000.
FEMA bumped up Houston's rate for cleanup to $11.69 per cubic yard, up from $7.69. Houston curbs still have about 8 million cubic yards of debris top pick up – a process that will take the rest of the year or more.
There will be three public hearings on Turner’s tax proposal:
--6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25.
--6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2.
--9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11.