For the fourth consecutive year, Orange County commissioners have approved a tax rate decrease for the next taxable year.
The proposal passed unanimously and lowered the county property tax rates from $0.51 to $0.493 per $100 assessed taxable value, which will generate the same amount of revenue as last year.
This means that even as property values may increase, the no-new-revenue rate will ensure property tax bills remain the same.
Precinct 2 County Commissioner Chris Sowell told Texas Scorecard, “I’m very proud to be part of the current Commissioners Court and the efforts we’ve taken to lower the tax burden on the citizens of Orange County by lowering our tax rate to the ‘No New Revenue’ rate for the first time in the history of Orange County.”
“This is the lowest our tax rate has been in 25 years,” he added.
County Judge John Gothia told the commissioners during last month’s meeting that not only has the county been able to reduce the property tax rate for the fourth consecutive year, but also that the county adopted a no-new-revenue tax rate for the first time in nearly 35 years.
Gothia credits the ability to lower the tax rate to the county’s budget management as well as county growth.
Homeowners could see a small decrease in property taxes in 2026 if their property’s appraised value remains the same.
