For Atascosa County homeowners already watching grocery bills, insurance premiums and other household expenses, the county's newly adopted 2027 budget brings another number to consider.

The Atascosa County Commissioners Court unanimously adopted the county's 2027 budget on Sept. 14 and separately ratified the increase in property tax revenue built into that spending plan. Commissioners also unanimously approved a total 2026 property tax rate of $0.565516 per $100 of taxable value, up from the current $0.482888 rate.

For residents, however, the percentage change in the tax rate is only part of the story. A household's actual Atascosa County property tax bill will depend on its taxable value, applicable exemptions and other individual circumstances.

The county's own taxpayer impact statement provides a clearer example of what the change could mean.

Median Atascosa County Homestead Could See About $172 Increase

Atascosa County identified $206,980 as the median-valued homestead property for purposes of its required taxpayer impact statement.

Using that example, the county calculated:

• Current county property taxes at the $0.482888 rate: $999

• Estimated county property taxes under the $0.565516 rate: $1,171

• Estimated taxes under the no-new-revenue rate of $0.515555: $1,067

That means the county's example median homestead would see an estimated $172 increase from the current fiscal year, or about $14.33 more per month when spread across a year. The adopted rate would also produce an estimated $104 more on that example property than the no-new-revenue rate.

Those numbers are an illustration, not a prediction for every homeowner. Individual bills can vary significantly based on taxable values and exemptions.

The no-new-revenue rate is designed to produce approximately the same property tax revenue from properties taxed in both years, excluding certain adjustments such as new property. The county's adopted rate exceeds that threshold but does not exceed its voter-approval rate. 

Atascosa County Expects $3.54 Million More in Property Tax Revenue

The final revised 2027 budget states that it will raise $3,541,872.26 more in total property taxes than the previous year's budget, a 10.509049% increase. Of that amount, $804,627.46 is expected to come from new property added to the tax roll.

That distinction matters for residents trying to understand the numbers.

The county's tax rate is rising from $0.482888 to $0.565516, but that does not mean every homeowner's county tax bill will rise by the same percentage. Changes in appraised and taxable values, exemptions and growth in the overall tax base all affect the final amount collected.

The budget also reflects a growing county government serving a growing population. During the Sept. 14 discussion, commissioners pointed to public safety, jail staffing, emergency medical services, juvenile services and other state-mandated responsibilities as pressures on county finances.

One commissioner described the challenge this way: “Our county is growing and I know it's hard when we have to take a hiccup of prices and stuff going up.”

Officials said that growth creates additional demands on services such as the Sheriff's Office and EMS while state requirements can limit how much the county can scale back certain operations.

Road and Bridge Funding Was Part of the Budget Debate

County roads were another point of concern during public comments.

The 2027 budget provides approximately $7.44 million in the Road and Bridge General Fund, compared with about $7.62 million in the 2026 budget. Transfers from that fund to the four individual road and bridge precincts total about $7.2 million for 2027, down from roughly $7.39 million budgeted for 2026. 

During public comment, resident Amanda Aldereti questioned the balance between road funding and personnel spending and asked whether the county had considered an independent staffing and workload review before increasing taxes and salaries.

Residents also raised broader questions about whether county departments had reduced spending enough before asking taxpayers for additional revenue.

Oscar Chorus told commissioners: We understand that things have increased and the county needs to make up for that to some extent.”

He urged officials to consider a lower tax rate and said residents wanted to see evidence that household financial pressures were being considered alongside county needs.

County Officials Point to Growth, Insurance Costs and Lost Mineral Value

Commissioners defended the budget during an extended discussion before voting on the tax rate.

County officials said departments had made reductions during the budget process and pointed to several financial pressures, including higher operating costs, health insurance expenses, additional staffing needs and state requirements.

Officials also said Atascosa County lost approximately $500 million in mineral value, reducing a portion of the property tax base that has historically helped support county services.

The county budget includes a $5.646 million health insurance clearing fund for 2027.

County officials also noted that the new rate remains below some rates levied in previous years. The county's 2026 adopted budget shows a total rate of $0.607231 in 2022 and $0.482888 for 2024 through 2026. 

During the meeting, officials repeatedly characterized the 2027 budget as unusually difficult to assemble because of competing demands for services and taxpayer affordability.

One county official said: “We have to find a happy medium. We don't none of us like raising taxes.”

Officials said county departments and commissioners had been asked to reduce spending where possible, while warning that deeper reductions could eventually affect road maintenance or the county's ability to respond to residents.

Residents Question the Impact on Fixed-Income Households

Public opposition centered heavily on residents living on fixed incomes.

Jacqueline Chorus urged commissioners to consider seniors, veterans and residents with disabilities who may have less flexibility when taxes and everyday expenses rise.

During the tax-rate hearing, she told the court: “We need to rethink raising that tax rate that high.”

County officials responded that homestead exemptions can reduce taxable values for eligible homeowners and said those exemptions must also be factored into how the county finances its services.

Because exemptions and taxable values differ from property to property, residents should review their individual appraisal and exemption information rather than applying the $172 median-homestead estimate directly to their own tax bills.

What Happens Next for Atascosa County Property Owners

The newly adopted tax rate applies to the 2026 tax year and supports Atascosa County's budget for the fiscal year running Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2027. The county's final revised proposed budget and taxpayer impact materials remain available through its financial transparency and budget pages.

For families in Jourdanton, Pleasanton, Poteet, Charlotte, Lytle and rural areas across Atascosa County, the most useful next step is to look at the taxable value shown for their own property, confirm which exemptions apply and calculate the county portion of the tax bill using the adopted rate.

The Sept. 14 debate also made clear that the budget conversation extends beyond a single tax bill. At its center is a question many growing Texas counties are confronting: how to maintain roads, public safety and other services as population and operating costs increase while keeping the burden on existing residents manageable.

Those competing pressures are likely to remain part of Atascosa County's budget discussions well beyond the 2027 fiscal year.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on Atascosa County property taxes, local government spending, road projects and other decisions affecting area residents.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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