El Paso County Commissioners approve proposed lower tax rate, will increase for homeowners
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso County Commissioners Court unanimously approved it’s new tax rate for the 2026-27 fiscal year budget, which is expected to be approved and enacted this October.
In a quiet public hearing in Downtown Monday night, only three residents appeared for public comment, voicing their opposition for the tax rate first discussed in last Monday’s meeting.
“By not taking the voter approved rate, we have $46 million less to do the things that people have discussed,” Ricardo Samaniego, El Paso County Judge said Monday night.
For next year’s budget, a $0.451113 tax rate will be used, which is the “No-New-Revenue Rate” the county typicallys use
The reasoning for this is because of the voter-approved rate, which gives the county flexibility to address various needs and negotiate the final rate.
In regards to the public’s frustrations, commissioners urged their constitutions to vent their frustrations to their state legislators in Austin.
“I really hope that people will go and talk to their state legislators,” said David Stout, the commissioner for Precinct 2. “Ask them to put a moratorium on unfunded mandates for counties, because that is really what’s driving your county budget up.”
A second public hearing on the tax rate is scheduled for Sept. 14th, when the county could adopt the proposed budget.
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