A native Houstonian, Paul Bettencourt was elected Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector in November 1998. The hallmark of his administration has been Smart Government.

Smart Government is about accountability to the taxpayer.

Paul recognizes that taxpayers are customers and remains committed to improving customer service and reducing costs for the taxpayers of Harris County. He has led the effort to modernize the Harris County Tax Office by implementing new systems in automobile, property tax, and voter registration services. The modernization of these systems features technology that invites you to “get online instead of in line” at the Tax Office.

Through Paul’s leadership, the Tax Office: handles 4.2 million vehicle registration renewals generating $848 million; collects $3.8 billion on 1.5 million individual property accounts for more than 60 jurisdictions; and maintains a voter registration roll of 1.8 million in a given year for the third-largest county in the nation.

Additionally, the Harris County Tax Office provides election-day telephone assistance fielding tens of thousands of calls each within a four-second-wait time from the general public and election officials. Modernization of services and efficient customer service moves the Tax Office closer to fulfilling Paul’s vision of becoming the best Tax Office in the nation.

Paul was the Harris County Liaison to the joint City-County Unified Command during the Katrina-Rita Hurricanes, and performed a variety of duties in those efforts, including local damage assessment.

Paul earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A & M University’s College of Engineering in Industrial Distribution where he held numerous student leadership positions.

Paul and his wife Susan have two children, Henry and Christina. The Bettencourts make their home in Houston and are active members of Saint John Vianney Catholic Church.

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