WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS ADOPT BUDGET, TAX RATE

  

Washington County Commissioners moved today (Tuesday) to adopt the budget and property tax rate for the next fiscal year.

No comments were raised during a public hearing on the $53,306,770 budget, and there was no discussion by commissioners before their unanimous vote.

The new budget consists of $42,334,847 in general fund expenditures, $8,408,464 for the road and bridge fund and $2,563,459 for debt service.  It is higher than the past adopted budget of $49,414,555. 

The county expects the new budget will raise more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by $3,792,665, or 11 percent, including $744,670 from new property added to the tax roll this year.

The county is expected to release further information soon on the budget particulars.

While the vote on the budget itself was a unanimous 5-0, votes to ratify the property tax increase reflected in the budget and to approve levying the new property tax rate were 4-0, with recently-sworn-in Commissioner Chad Dismukes abstaining.

The new tax rate of $0.4367 per $100 valuation is up from the old rate of $0.3840 per $100.  It is made up of $0.3230 for maintenance and operations (M&O), an increase from the past M&O rate of $0.3040, and adds $0.0337 for interest and sinking (I&S), where there was previously no I&S payment.  The road and bridge allocation of $0.08 remains unchanged.

With the new rate, the tax on the average homestead is expected to increase by $246.19, or 16 percent, over 2025. 

Following the regular meeting, commissioners went into a public meeting for the Pecan Glen Road District and approved an order levying taxes for the road district for the 2026 tax year.  The approved Pecan Glen tax rate, paid for only by residents in the Pecan Glen subdivision, is $0.278321 per $100, below the previous tax rate of $0.284546.

In other business, the court:

• Approved the list of early voting and election day polling locations for the November 3, 2026 general election. 
• Appointed Dr. Robert Wright, Sheriff Trey Holleway and County Judge John Durrenberger to the Brazos Valley Council of Governments Board of Directors for three-year terms, beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2029.
• Took action to receive and record in the commissioners court minutes the order relating to the budget of the county auditor for Fiscal Year 2027, as entered by the 21^st and 335^th Judicial District Courts.
• Read a proclamation recognizing September 17 – 23 as Constitution Week in Washington County.
• Discussed a formal notice from Magnolia Oil and Gas Operating, LLC for a temporary lay-flat water line along the county right-of-way of McNelly Lane in Precinct 3.  No action was needed.
• Discussed formal notices from Industry Communications for new service line installation in the county right-of-way of Moye Road and Wildwood Road in Precinct 4.  No action was necessary.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Tuesday's meeting.