Collin County approves first property tax rate hike in decades

Collin County commissioners voted 4-1 to raise the county property tax rate for fiscal 2026-27, a move expected to bring in about $16.3 million more and raise the bill on a median-value home by $62.88. The increase is the county’s first in more than 30 years and takes effect Oct. 1.

Why it matters: - Collin County’s new rate raises the county-only portion of property taxes at a time when homeowners are already facing higher household costs. - The increase is the county’s first property tax rate hike in more than three decades, making it a notable shift in local tax policy. - A median-value home with a homestead exemption is projected to pay $744.98 in county property taxes, up from $682.10.

What happened: - Collin County commissioners voted 4-1 on Monday, Sept. 14, to adopt a property tax rate of $0.151414 per $100 of taxable value for fiscal year 2026-27. - The new rate is up from $0.149343 the previous year, an increase of about 1.4%. - The adopted rate takes effect Oct. 1, when the county’s new fiscal year begins.

The details: - Commissioners also approved a $619.6 million county budget for fiscal 2026-2027. - The budget is about $20.4 million larger than the prior year’s budget. - The higher tax rate is expected to generate about $16.3 million in additional property tax revenue for the county. - The new rate applies only to the Collin County portion of property taxes. - Cities, school districts and special districts set their own property tax rates separately. - County budget figures show the median home value rose from $480,773 to $517,911. - For a median-value home with a homestead exemption, county property taxes are estimated to rise by $62.88. - The county rate is split into a $0.109564 maintenance-and-operations rate and a $0.041850 debt-service rate. - The maintenance-and-operations rate increased from $0.107452. - The debt-service rate edged down from $0.041891. - The amount a homeowner pays will vary based on taxable value and available exemptions.

Between the lines: - Patrick O’Connor, president of O’Connor, said homeowners should review property values and exemptions to avoid paying more than necessary. - The rate increase lands alongside a larger budget and rising home values, which can amplify the impact on tax bills even when the rate change is modest.

What's next: - Property owners will see the new county rate reflected in bills tied to the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1. - Homeowners who believe their assessment is too high can seek help appealing it through O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program. - O’Connor says enrollment in the program takes 2 to 3 minutes online and involves no upfront fee unless the company reduces property taxes.

The bottom line: - Collin County is raising its property tax rate for the first time in decades, and the combination of higher rates and higher home values is set to push up many county tax bills.