The ongoing Fort Bend County Commissioners Court boycott could leave the average homeowner paying $54 less than the proposed county tax rate, but it would cost the county $21.3 million in revenue for roads, parks and employee raises that serve Missouri City and Stafford.

Here's the math: Fort Bend County Finance Director Pamela Gubbels told ABC13 that a homeowner with the county's average taxable value of $322,324 would pay $1,384 under the proposed 42-cent-per-$100 rate. If the boycott prevents a vote and the county falls to the automatic no-new-revenue rate of about 40.5 cents, that same homeowner would pay $1,330. That's $30 less than last year's $1,360 bill.

For Stafford homeowners, the county rate is the largest single property-tax line because the city levies no property tax of its own. Missouri City homeowners pay the county rate on top of the city's $0.570825 rate, as we reported.

The proposed rate is actually a slight decrease from the current 42.2-cent rate. But the $21.3 million gap between the proposed rate and the no-new-revenue fallback would eliminate a $10.4 million placeholder for roughly 3% cost-of-living raises for county employees, including sheriff's deputies and road crews. About $70 million the county has already advanced for road projects and $5 million for park projects would stall, with bond transactions delayed until after the Nov. 3 election, as we reported Aug. 13.

County Auditor Ed Sturdivant has warned it could take up to five years to restore the county's financial capacity and that the AAA bond rating could be at risk.

Why there's no quorum

Democratic Commissioners Grady Prestage and Dexter McCoy have boycotted Commissioners Court meetings since June 25, citing legal questions about Interim County Judge Daniel Wong's authority to preside. Texas law requires four of five court members present to adopt a tax rate. Only three members have attended since late June: Wong, Commissioner Andy Meyers and Commissioner Vincent Morales.

"The issue is not a disagreement about the budget itself," McCoy said during an Aug. 5 budget workshop, as Covering Katy News reported. "The issue is the unresolved legal uncertainty surrounding Mr. Wong's authority to preside over Commissioners Court while that question is still before the courts."

District Judge Edward Krenek ruled Aug. 6 that Wong could remain in the position while the dispute continues. The legal case has key hearings in October and a trial in November, both after the tax-rate deadline.

Wong is the Republican nominee for Fort Bend County judge in the Nov. 3 election. McCoy is the Democratic nominee for the same seat.

What happens next

The Sept. 10 Commissioners Court meeting is the deadline for adopting the proposed tax rate. If no rate is adopted by Sept. 30, the county automatically reverts to the no-new-revenue rate on Oct. 1. Only one of the two boycotting commissioners needs to return to provide the fourth vote.

Meyers warned at the Aug. 13 meeting that if four members are not present for the Sept. 10 vote, the proposed rate will not be adopted.

The next Commissioners Court meeting before the deadline is scheduled for Aug. 27.