HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Qualifying childcare facilities in Harris County have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to apply for a property tax exemption that county and City of Houston leaders said is aimed at relieving financial pressure on the industry.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Houston City Councilmember Abbie Kamin of District C spoke at a news conference to encourage childcare facilities to complete the application with the fast-approaching deadline.
"We’re here mainly to celebrate what’s come together but most importantly to encourage childcare providers to apply for this," Hidalgo said.
The property tax exemption opportunity is the result of voters approving Proposition 2 last fall which allowed Texas counties and cities to have childcare providers apply for property tax exemptions. Harris County and the City of Houston passed 100% exemptions for qualifying facilities.
"This helps us to better our standards and the quality of care that we provide for the children," Sophia Davis, the co-founder of childcare provider Cradles 2 Crayons, said at the news conference.
Officials said the average Harris County childcare provider could save about $2,800 a year with the exemption.
Hidalgo said the county received 109 applications as of Monday afternoon but about 327 facilities qualified for the exemption.
More information can be found here. The application must be mailed in and post-marked by 5 p.m. on April 30.