AUSTIN, Texas - Travis County property taxes are going up.

Commissioners Court has approved a tax rate increase to eight percent to help with flood recovery.

What we know:

For the average homeowner, that's about a $200 increase. Commissioners were allowed to raise it that high because a disaster was declared.

"What we wanted to do was make certain that, one, we're meeting the needs of the community that were affected, and two, making certain we're doing everything we can to help prevent any future deaths or damages," Hector Nieto, director of the public information office for Travis County, said.

He says the county has already put $21 million towards flood response.

"We expect those costs to continue rising. That's why today's tax rate that went up to 8% allows us to do that and

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