HARRIS COUNTY, TX JULY 8, 2025 – Harris County Universal Services (HCUS) has been recognized with two 2025 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The winning projects were the Delinquent Taxes Project and the Flood Warning System API. The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
The Delinquent Taxes Project, initiated in September 2023, improves Harris County’s ability to collect overdue property taxes. Previously, a lack of streamlined payment options, led to delays in tax collections and created administrative inefficiencies. Since its launch in February 2024, the new system, which integrates with the existing property tax system, has collected more than $1.5 million by simplifying the payment process and offering mobile-friendly access.
The project’s phased rollout included developing mobile-friendly platforms for residents to access tax bills and make payments.
During a recent Commissioners Court meeting, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones praised the project as a potential model at the local, state and national levels, highlighting its role in advancing justice through effective government service.
Future phases of the project will include Interactive Voice Response (IVR) payment options and in-office payment solutions to further improve accessibility, efficiency, security and convenience for taxpayers.
The Flood Warning System (FWS) API, launched in August 2023, provides real-time flood and rainfall data from a network of gages across Harris County. With the county and the surrounding Houston regions frequently impacted by severe weather, such as last year’s May 2024 derecho and Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, the system plays a critical role in delivering timely, accurate information to residents and emergency management personnel.
The traditional method of monitoring flood risks lacked a centralized solution for data retrieval. The new system provides a scalable cloud infrastructure using integrated data from multiple sources. By offering data in XML and JSON and GeoJSON formats, the API is also compatible with multiple systems.
Future phases will focus on refining data validation methods, expanding gage coverage and enhancing predictive analytics.
“Efforts led by HCUS are allowing us to use technology to deliver more value to residents of Harris County,” said Sindhu Menon, Chief Information Officer and Executive Director of Harris County Universal Services. “These projects show how the right systems can offer life-saving information in real time and streamline operations. We are constantly striving to deliver efficiency, accessibility and innovation at its best.”
Each year, NACo’s Achievement Awards recognize outstanding programming in 18 categories aligned with the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, libraries, management, information technology, health, civic engagement and more. Launched in 1970, the program is designed to celebrate innovation in county government. Each nominated program is judged on its own merits and not against other applications.
“The Achievement Awards shine a spotlight on the hard work and innovation happening in county governments across the nation,” said NACo President James Gore. “This year’s winners highlight the dedication and creativity of county leaders and our teams to building thriving communities and providing the best possible services to our residents.”
For more information about NACo’s Achievement Awards, click here.