Press Release|Public Finance
KBRA Assigns AA+ Rating to Harris County Hospital District (TX) Series 2026 Limited Tax and Refunding Bonds; Affirms Rating for Parity Bonds
8 May 2026 | New York
KBRA assigns a long-term rating of AA+ to the Harris County Hospital District's, TX (the "District") Series 2026, Limited Tax and Refunding Bonds. Concurrently, KBRA affirms the long-term AA+ rating for outstanding limited tax bonds. The Rating Outlook is Stable.
Key Credit Considerations
The rating actions reflect the following key credit considerations:
Credit Positives
- A growing tax base continues to generate strong property tax revenues for the District, thus supporting voter-authorized debt obligations.
- The ad valorem tax rate remains well below the Texas Constitutional limit.
- As the primary safety net healthcare provider in Harris County, the District plays an essential role within the county’s public health mission.
Credit Challenges
- The District’s large capital plan will place upward pressure on operating expenses, debt requirements and the tax levy.
- Material cuts to Medicaid may present operational challenges given the District’s payor mix.
Rating Sensitivities
For Upgrade
- Material growth in the property tax base, which supports the District’s revenue and operations and bolsters the taxing capacity within the Constitutional levy limit.
For Downgrade
- Significant secular deceleration or declines in tax base growth pressuring ad valorem tax support.
- Trend of sharply increasing operating deficits requiring substantial increases in the M&O tax rate.
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