Fort Bend County employees could lose a proposed 3% cost-of-living raise, and road and drainage projects across the county could stall, unless at least one boycotting commissioner returns for a Sept. 10 vote.

Commissioners Court took a step forward Thursday, Aug. 13, posting a proposed property tax rate for fiscal year 2026-27. But the meeting in Richmond again took place without Democratic Commissioners Dexter McCoy and Grady Prestage, who have refused to attend since late June over a dispute about interim County Judge Daniel Wong's legal authority.

As we reported Aug. 4, the county's current combined property tax rate is $0.422 per $100 of taxable value. Missouri City homeowners pay that on top of the city's $0.570825 rate. Stafford levies no city property tax, making the county rate the largest single line on most Stafford homeowners' tax bills.

What's at stake

Texas law requires four of the five Commissioners Court members to adopt a tax rate. Only three attended Thursday's meeting: Wong, Commissioner Andy Meyers and Commissioner Vincent Morales.

That's not enough.

If the quorum cannot be reached by Sept. 10, the tax rate defaults to the no-new-revenue rate under state law, and the county's $792 million proposed budget would be cut by roughly $21 million, according to Fort Bend County Director of Finance and Investments Pamela Gubbels, as reported by The Texan.

County Auditor Ed Sturdivant has warned that restoring the county's financial capacity afterward could take as long as five years, according to Covering Katy News.

Among the items at risk: the 3% cost-of-living increase for county employees, including public safety workers, and bond-funded infrastructure projects covering roads and drainage.

Both sides dig in

Meyers made the stakes plain to county staff at Thursday's meeting: "If we don't have four present for the Sept. 10 adoption of the tax rate, then this is not going to be the tax rate we end up with," he said, according to ABC13.

McCoy, in a written statement the same day, accused Wong of holding the county hostage and said his refusal to step aside risks financial calamity for the county. Prestage has said he and McCoy will not participate in Commissioners Court until the legal questions about Wong's authority are resolved.

Wong has said he will attend the Sept. 10 meeting. His spokesperson told KPRC that the county attorney has confirmed Wong is the current interim county judge.

The legal dispute is unlikely to be settled before the budget deadline. District Judge Edward Krenek ruled Aug. 6 that Wong could remain in the position while the case continues, but set an Oct. 16 hearing on motions and a Nov. 10 trial date, one week after the general election in which Wong and McCoy are running against each other for county judge.

What happens next

Only one of the two boycotting commissioners needs to return to provide the fourth member required for the tax rate vote.

The next Commissioners Court meeting is scheduled for Aug. 27, with the final budget and tax-rate adoption set for Sept. 10. About 15 people rallied outside the Fort Bend County courthouse Thursday in support of Wong.