Most city, county, and school district officials are right now in the process of adopting budgets and determining tax rates for the next fiscal year. In some cases, these local decisions will increase the cost of government and put upward pressure on property tax bills. In a few cases, local government action will cause tax bills to skyrocket.
Given the very real prospect of near-term tax increases, now is the time for Texans to learn what’s happening in their communities and get involved in the decision-making process—while there’s still time. Doing so could mean the difference between being able to afford your home or getting priced out.
To better illustrate what may be at stake, consider the city of Whitesboro.
According to the city’s Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase, the average Whitesboro homeowner’s tax bill could soon soar by 61.42%, or an extra $498.73 per year. Should officials adopt the proposed tax rate, then the city’s annual tax burden will grow from $812.03 to $1,310.76.
One reason for the dramatic tax bill surge is the city’s pairing of much higher rates with rising property value.
For 2025-26, officials are threatening to hike the tax rate from $0.387645 per $100/value to $0.5858 per $100/value, which represents a 51.12% increase. At the same time, the average homestead’s taxable value is also expected to grow by 6.82%. The combination of these two factors—higher rates & higher values—will force tax bills up.
Of course, there is no requirement that Whitesboro officials adopt the proposed tax rate. In fact, officials have the discretion to choose a better, friendlier option, which is the no-new-revenue (NNR) tax rate. The NNR rate is the tax rate that would effectively hold tax receipts constant and “giv[e] homeowners and businesses a chance to catch their breath.” For 2025-26, the NNR rate ($0.375661 per $100/value) is less than the proposed tax rate ($0.5858 per $100/value), with the difference equating to more than 21 cents per $100/value.
Tax-weary Texans will be able to voice any concerns about the higher rate and the growing cost of government at an upcoming formal hearing. According to the city, interested parties should be on the lookout for:
- A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE WILL BE HELD ON September 9, 2025 AT 6:00 PM AT CITY HALL, 111 W. MAIN STREET, WHITESBORO, TX.
