Victoria County, situated near the Gulf Coast, has experienced a relatively steady taxing environment over the three years from 2019 to 2022.
Only a couple of taxing entities in the county bucked the trend of lowered taxing rates, failing to keep rising property values from massively outpacing rate cuts.
Calculations in this article were made using data from the Victoria Central Appraisal District. Specifically, the analysis uses the average taxable values of single-family homes in 2019, 2021, and 2022, along with the annual tax rates for each taxing entity, to examine trends across the county.
Victoria County taxpayers have seen varied changes in their tax bills over the last three years as local governments and entities adjusted their tax rates in response to rising property values.
While some entities took steps to lower tax burdens, others kept rates flat, allowing increased property values to drive higher tax bills.
Multiple taxing entities lowered tax rates, including the City of Victoria. The city reduced its tax rate from 0.6115 in 2019 to 0.5582 in 2022. Despite that cut, due to an 18.25 percent increase in taxable property values, average tax bills increased by $77 over three years.
Victoria Independent School District did one better. The district made a significant cut, lowering its rate from 1.1935 to 1.0542. As a result, the average bill to taxpayers dropped by $26, even with property values rising by 11.43 percent.
Other entities that reduced rates include Drainage District 3, Industrial ISD, and Water District 1, providing tax relief despite rising home valuations.
The county kept rates flat at 0.3329, and since property values increased, average tax bills increased by $100, an 18.57 percent hike.
Flat rates these days often mean rising bills, as evidenced by increases tied to property value appreciation.
A few taxing entities stood out for jacking up tax collections: the Refugio and Nursery ISDs. While, like the other entities discussed in this article, each district lowered its rates, property appraisals soared, resulting in a $371 and $228 increase on the average bill, respectively.
As property values continue to rise, taxpayers should remain vigilant and demand accountability from public servants to ensure sane taxation.
From now until tax day in 2025, Texas Scorecard will report on counties across the state, highlighting local officials who are working to lighten, or at the very least not add to, property taxpayers’ burdens.
Conversely, public servants who have added to taxpayers’ already burdensome load will also be scrutinized.
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