Results tagged “collectorpaulbettencourt”

Looks like some changes to red-light camera citations could be on the way, thanks to legislation on Gov. Rick Perry's desk: If Perry signs the bill by Sunday (or if he doesn't), drivers with outstanding red-light citations may not be able to renew their state vehicle registrations — and cities that issue the citations would no longer be able to send unpaid fines to a collection agency. Questions do remain about the proposal, including exactly...

Due to a number of problems that have already been reported with early voting, several counties are ready to get rid of the voting records system used in Texas because it is too flawed. The system, TEAM, began operating in January in order to comply with federal regulations on centralizing voting information across the state. Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt said that the new database is "causing statewide voting problems" and that "it's a...

More on yesterday's news that Metro is now in the business of land investing: According to county tax officials, the transit agency could end up having to pay taxes on two blocks of Midtown property it's holding for a private developer for several months. Metro's board approved the purchase of the property in question, a two-block, $7.2 million parcel bordered by Main, Holman, Travis and Winbern, on March 22. The seller is developer Robert H. Schultz's RHS Interests, which plans a mixed-use development for the site. RHS can buy the property back from Metro within a year for $7.2 million; for six months after that, the price will be $7.2 million plus interest; and after 18 months, Metro may do whatever it wants to with the property. For Schultz, the deal has two big benefits: The price of the land is locked for 12 months — and during that time, while Metro is holding onto the property, he won't have to pay taxes on it.

As expected, transportation consultant and former state representative Ed Emmett took over as Harris County judge yesterday, replacing outgoing judge Robert Eckels. Emmett won the post on a 4-1 vote of the county Commssioners Court: The only "no" vote came from Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, who said she was voting against Emmett because she preferred to appoint someone who wouldn't seek to be elected to the office next year. Garcia later changed her vote to make the appointment unanimous.

More on the resignation of Harris County Judge Robert Eckels: The Chronicle is reporting that Eckels plans to make tomorrow his last day in office, and it looks like former state Rep. Ed Emmett will take his place. Eckels has "strongly hinted" that he will support Emmett to serve as county judge until an election can be held next year for someone to fill the remaining two years of Eckels' term — an election in...

Good morning, Houston. If you have an outstanding municipal warrant, it's time to start watching out: More than 150 law enforcement agencies, including HPD, are gearing up to arrest you next week. It's part of the Great Texas Warrant Roundup, which runs for a week beginning Friday; if you don't take care of your warrant, KHOU warns, you risk "being arrested and embarrassed in front of family, friends or even co-workers." No, not co-workers!...

The Chronicle reports today that Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, who has held the top elected post in the county since 1995, may be considering leaving office before his current term expires to take a job in the private sector. "In the last 90 days I've had conversations with a New York firm and international investment banking firms," Eckels said. "I have had more serious discussions than in the past. They are more concrete."

Think Harris County has undervalued your house in its appraisal? Yeah, we bet you can't wait to correct that one — but you'd better do it soon, because tomorrow's the last day for homeowners to protest their property's appraised value.