Primary Department: Tax Assessor-Collector
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Ms. Annette Ramirez
Managing Department: County Engineer
Managing Department Head/Elected Official: Dr. Milton Rahman
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Investment Memo
Investment Memo Type: Final Investment Memo
Project Name: Administration Building 4th Floor HCTO Buildout
Project ID (if applicable): TBD
Vendor Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Achievement (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Incremental Authorization Requested: $498,500
Total Estimated Project Cost: $498,500
Request Summary:
title
Request for approval of a Final Investment Memo for the Administration Building 4th Floor HCTO Buildout project for an amount of $498,500, and commercial paper funding in the amount of $500,000.
end
Project Description:
The Harris County Tax Office (HCTO) requests authorization to build out its allocated space on the 4th floor of the Administration Building at 1001 Preston St, Houston, TX 77002. Phase 1 of this project will occupy a quadrant of the 4th floor. This buildout is critical to accommodate the office’s continued growth and the facilitation of the relocation of key divisions, including the Assessor’s Office. The existing configuration of the 4th floor does not meet the required standards for safety, accessibility, or operational efficiency. The proposed buildout is necessary to ensure the space adequately supports HCTO’s operational and personnel needs.
Anticipated Project Expenditures and Timeline:
|
Project Scope Breakdown |
Estimated Cost |
Estimated Completion |
|
Office and Workspace Construction |
$433,500 |
Q3 of FY26 |
|
Contingency (15%) |
$65,000 |
Q3 of FY26 |
|
Total |
$498,500 |
Q3 of FY26 |
Justification & Alternatives:
HCTO has outgrown its existing workspace, and there is insufficient space to accommodate all employees who are currently located downtown in the Administration Building. HCTO has been allocated half of the 4th floor to accommodate its needs. The existing configuration fails to meet basic safety, accessibility, and operational requirements.
The intent of HCTO’s growth has been to support key revenue initiatives, including the expansion and implementation of property tax payment options, conducting a review of current special revenues, and the identification of new revenue streams for Harris County. Expanded property tax payment options, in addition to other initiatives such as increased education regarding exemptions and appraisal protests, will bolster housing stability and reduce tax foreclosures for residents.
• Employees are double-occupying workstations due to space limitations.
• Safety concerns have been identified by the Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO).
• Outdated electrical and HVAC systems require updates to meet compliance standards, increasing construction costs.
Without immediate renovation, HCTO will continue to operate in a fragmented and inefficient environment, which will impede progress on revenue and flexible payment initiatives, productivity, process improvements, and staff morale.
Currently, there are no viable alternatives to the proposed Phase 1 Project.
Anticipated Impact on Other Funds (If Applicable): N/A
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Fund Code |
Description |
Estimated Cost |
Funding Method (Existing or Future Budget Request Required) |
Estimated Date of Needs |
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$- |
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- |
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$- |
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- |
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Total |
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$- |
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- |
County Strategic Plan Goal: N/A
County Strategic Plan Objective: N/A
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Previous Court Action: N/A
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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Address: 1001 Preston Street
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request |
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Commercial Paper |
$ |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
$ |
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Total Funding Request |
$ |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 8/26/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date):
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Legal funding compliance confirmed by: Paige Abernathy, Special Assistant County Attorney, 8/14/2025
Department Approval by: Samantha Kealoha, Chief of Staff, Harris County Tax Office
OMB CIP Team Approval by: William McGuinness, Director-Capital Projects & Infrastructure, 8/13/2025
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Commercial Paper Request (For OMB use only):
Receiving Department: County Engineer
Project PeopleSoft ID: TBD
CP Series Description: Commercial Paper Series D can be used for (1) construction of public works, (2) the purchase of automobiles, equipment and machinery, including computers, materials and supplies for the operation of the County’s precincts and departments (3) Professional services, including services provided by engineers, architects, attorneys, auditors, financial advisors, and fiscal agents, in connection with the contractual obligations described in (1) and (2).
Commercial Paper is being requested for the Administration Building 4th Floor HCTO Buildout project and is expected to be repaid within the next three fiscal years either through bonds, budgetary means or pay-as-you-go sources.
Note: Commercial Paper is issued in increments of $5,000 and the excess is not available to be spent by the department.
OMB Financial Management contact: Amy Perez, Deputy Executive Director, Office of Management and Budget