Collected and spent
In fiscal year 2024, Houston collected $2,447.3M in taxes and spent $2,498.4M.
Collected
$2,447.3M
Fiscal year 2024 (July 2023 to June 2024) · General Fund · taxes
Spent
$2,498.4M
Fiscal year 2024 (July 2023 to June 2024) · General Fund
Money moved from the General Fund to the city's other funds is not counted as spending. So the gap between the two figures is not a surplus.
Where the money comes from
Five taxes raised $2,447.3M.
Property tax
$1,365.6M
On the appraised value of homes, land and business property · $0.5192 per $100 of value · Set by City Council
Sales tax
$883.1M
On most retail purchases in the city · Set by the State Legislature; the city gets a share of a rate fixed in state law
Franchise tax
$149.2M
Paid by utilities for use of city rights of way · Set by City Council
The city's report calls these payments a tax in one schedule and fees in another.
Industrial assessments
$27.9M
Paid by plants outside the city limits, under deals made instead of bringing them into the city (annexation) · Set by City Council, through the agreements it approves
Hotel occupancy tax
$21.6M
On hotel room charges · Set by City Council, within a cap set in state law
Source · City of Houston, Office of the City Controller, City of Houston ACFR FY2024, General Fund — Schedule of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance, printed p. 171. Read on September 4, 2026.
Where it goes
Nine service lines.
Police
$1,049.3M
This figure is a share of one printed line, split in the proportions the budget schedule gives.
Fire
$603.6M
This figure is a share of one printed line, split in the proportions the budget schedule gives.
General government
$393.7M
Council, Mayor's office, courts, elections, Controller, finance, legal and planning
Public works
$230.7M
Streets, trash collection, fleet and stormwater
Parks and recreation
$90.0M
Health and human services
$51.8M
Library
$48.8M
43 branches and the Central Library
Debt service · past obligation
$29.9M
Payments on past borrowing (debt service). A further sum of bond payments comes from a separate debt fund.
Other
$0.5M
The General Fund part of housing programs
Bars in both tables share one scale. Hatched lines pay for past obligations, not current services.
Source · City of Houston Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024. Read on June 12, 2026.
Details
City of Houston Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 (audited; Office of the City Controller, Chris B. Hollins)Who decides
Houston's Mayor writes the budget plan each year. The Mayor also leads the 16-member City Council. The Council votes on the budget and on contracts. It must approve any city spending over $50,000. The city also elects a Controller. The Controller checks that money is on hand before the Council spends it. 16 council seats: 11 by district plus 5 at-large.
John Whitmire
Mayor
Next election
November 2, 2027
Julian Ramirez
Council Member, at large
Next election
November 2, 2027
Willie Davis
Council Member, at large
Next election
November 2, 2027
Twila Carter
Council Member, at large
Next election
November 2, 2027
Alejandra Salinas
Council Member, at large
Next election
November 2, 2027
Sallie Alcorn
Council Member, at large
Next election
November 2, 2027
Amy Peck
Council Member, District A
Next election
November 2, 2027
Tarsha Jackson
Council Member, District B
Next election
November 2, 2027
Joe Panzarella
Council Member, District C
Next election
November 2, 2027
Carolyn Evans-Shabazz
Council Member, District D
Next election
November 2, 2027
Fred Flickinger
Council Member, District E
Next election
November 2, 2027
Tiffany D. Thomas
Council Member, District F
Next election
November 2, 2027
Mary Nan Huffman
Council Member, District G
Next election
November 2, 2027
Mario Castillo
Council Member, District H
Next election
November 2, 2027
Joaquin Martinez
Council Member, District I
Next election
November 2, 2027
Edward Pollard
Council Member, District J
Next election
November 2, 2027
Martha Castex-Tatum
Council Member, District K
Next election
November 2, 2027
Source · City of Houston, City of Houston eGovernment Center — City Government. Read on September 7, 2026.
Details
City of Houston eGovernment Center — City Government (read 2026-09-06)When decisions happen
Houston's Mayor releases a proposed budget in early May. The Council's Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee handles matters on the annual budget and holds budget workshops. The full Council then adopts the budget. The new budget year starts July 1.
Each yearBudget season: proposed in May, adopted by Council, year starts July 1
November 2, 2027Election for 17 seats
How to reach it
Call 311, or use the online map, to find your Council Member. To speak at a Tuesday Council meeting, sign up ahead of time, by phone, email, online, or in person. Sign-up closes at 3 p.m. the Monday before the meeting.
Register online to speak at a Council public session
Online, through the government's own page
Call 311
Phone
Find your Council Member
Online, through the government's own page
Sign up to speak at a Council public session
Online, through the government's own page
Source · City of Houston, Office of the Mayor, City of Houston, Mayor's Office — Mayor Whitmire Announces Proposed FY 2027 Budget. Read on September 7, 2026.
Also on this tax bill
A Houston address pays these governments too. Which school districts, special districts and counties apply depends on the address.
On every bill in Houston
On some bills, depending on the address
School districts: 17
Houston Independent School DistrictSchool district
Aldine Independent School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Katy Independent School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Humble Independent School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Spring Branch Independent School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Alief Independent School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Pasadena Independent School DistrictSchool districtCypress-Fairbanks Independent School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Clear Creek Independent School DistrictSchool districtGalena Park Independent School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Fort Bend Independent School DistrictSchool districtHuffman Independent School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Spring Independent School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Deer Park Independent School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Klein Independent School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Crosby Independent School DistrictNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Conroe Independent School DistrictSchool districtSpecial districts: 5
Sources
Collected
Taxes and assessments, Mixed Beverage Tax excluded. Read on September 4, 2026.
Details
Taxes and assessments, Mixed Beverage Tax excluded (state-levied, formula-shared) — ACFR FY2024 p. 171; the fixture data/services/deployment/city/houston-fy2024.json records the decomposition and the exclusionSpent
City of Houston Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024. Read on June 12, 2026.
Details
City of Houston Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 (audited; Office of the City Controller, Chris B. Hollins)Taxes
City of Houston, Office of the City Controller, City of Houston ACFR FY2024, General Fund — Schedule of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance, printed p. 171. Read on September 4, 2026.
Who decides
City of Houston, City of Houston eGovernment Center — City Government. Read on September 7, 2026.
Details
City of Houston eGovernment Center — City Government (read 2026-09-06)When decisions happen
City of Houston, Office of the Mayor, City of Houston, Mayor's Office — Mayor Whitmire Announces Proposed FY 2027 Budget. Read on September 7, 2026.
How to reach it
City of Houston, Houston City Council, Houston City Council — Meetings Information. Read on September 7, 2026.
Details
Houston City Council — Meetings Information (public-session schedule and speaker sign-up)What it does
City of Houston Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024. Read on June 12, 2026.
Details
City of Houston Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 (audited; Office of the City Controller, Chris B. Hollins)To act on what you have read
Who Taxes Me describes. These three tools, made by the same team, are where you can do something about it. Each opens in a new tab.
Go to TaxTrace
Influence what and how much you are taxed
Go to 2zips
Compare taxes between two places
Spruce · coming soon
Influence improvements in your city