Most cities, counties, and school districts 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 soar.
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 El Paso County.
According to the county’s Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase, the average El Paso County homeowner’s tax bill could soon rise by 23.4%, or an additional $200.46 per year. Should local elected officials adopt the proposed tax rate, then the county’s total tax burden will grow from $856.72 to $1,057.18 annually.
One reason for the threatened tax increase is that county officials are considering imposing a much higher tax rate while at the same time property values are growing.
For 2025-26, officials have proposed raising the tax rate from $0.426323 per $100 of value to $0.487797 per $100 of value, representing a growth of 14.42 %. Meanwhile, the average homestead’s taxable value is expected to rise by 7.83%. The combination of these two factors—higher rates, higher values—will force tax bills up.
Of course, there is no requirement that El Paso County officials adopt the proposed tax rate. In fact, there is a better, friendlier option available for officials to consider, 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 ($0.409349 per $100 of value) is well below the proposed tax rate ($0.487797 per $100 of value), with the difference equating to almost 8-cents.
Tax-weary Texans will be able to voice their concerns at an upcoming formal hearing. Per the county’s public notice, the date, time, and location are listed below.
- A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE WILL BE HELD ON August 18, 2025, 9:30 AM at Commissioners Court Room 303 3rd floor County Courthouse, 500 East San Antonio, El Paso, Texas, 79901.
