Property Taxes

The budget City Council passed last week relies on revenue from increased property taxes, which must be approved by voters this fall. A lawsuit alleges ballot language for the tax rate election intentionally misleads voters.

City Council will ask voters to approve a higher tax rate to help pay for homelessness services, parks and public safety.

Federal and state disaster declarations allow the county to raise taxes without voter approval. The average Travis County homeowner would pay about $200 more in property taxes than the previous year.

Abbott signed Senate Bills 4 and 23 and House Bill 9 at the Robson Ranch Clubhouse in Denton. All three are part of Republican lawmakers' efforts to bring tax relief statewide to homeowners, seniors and small-business owners.

The Travis County Attorney says the eight businesses Paul owns owe more than $2.3 million in unpaid property taxes and legal fees. A spokesperson for the tax office said Paul owed the most back taxes of any property owner last year.

The Texas House passed a $337 billion budget for the 2026-27 biennium Friday morning. This came after the chamber spent more than 15 hours debating the proposal. The bill now heads back to a conference committee between both chambers.

The city will have to make some tough decisions about what programs and other needs to fund.

Next step will be action in the state House, where budget writers have different plans for distributing property tax help.

This legislative session, Texas lawmakers are hoping to lower property taxes and increase funding for the state’s public schools. Meanwhile, local taxing entities say the state’s recent efforts to curb property taxes are making it harder for them to fund the services they provide.

The governor touted Texas’ strong economy in his State of the State address Sunday, where he also laid out priorities he wants lawmakers to focus on in the months ahead. These include creating a school voucher-like program and lowering property taxes.