Houston City Council members Oct. 8 proposed an unchanged property tax rate for fiscal year 2025-26 after Mayor John Whitmire said he would not increase taxes or fees despite a projected $53 million dip in the fund balance.

“I look at it as the public gains $53 million,” Whitmire said at the Oct. 8 City Council meeting. “With the cost of living and affordability being on everyone’s mind, the public just does not want to pay more fees or taxes.”

At a glance

City Council set the proposed rate of $0.5191 per $100 home valuation, which is lower than the rate used to calculate the FY 2025-26 city budget that the council adopted in June . The proposed rate is the same as the last two years.

City Finance Director Melissa Dubowski said the budget was created using a rate of $0.5378 per $100

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