Atascosa County adopts 2026 budget, keeps overall tax rate unchanged; commissioners ratify tax increase tied to new property value

Atascosa County Commissioners Court on Sept. 22, 2025, adopted the county's fiscal year 2026 budget, approved the 2025 property-tax rates and ratified a property-tax increase tied to new property values while maintaining the county's overall tax rate.

The court opened public hearings required by state law and read a taxpayer-impact statement required under recent changes to the Texas Government Code. The county identified a median (medium) valued homestead of $228,700; the court said estimated property taxes for that homestead under the proposed budget would be about $1,105, roughly a $1 difference from the no-new-revenue comparison cited in the statement.

The courtroom then voted on the budget and associated tax items. Commissioner Mark Gillespie moved to adopt the Atascosa County 2026 budget "as presented." The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pavelic and carried on a record vote with Commissioners Gillespie, Bowen, Pavelic and County Judge Willdan Piccout voting in favor and Commissioner Riley absent.

On the tax items, the court: - Ratified a property-tax increase reflected in the 2026 budget (the court said the increase results from added taxable value in the county, not an increase in the tax rate). Motion by Commissioner Gillespie, second by Commissioner Bowen; carried 4-0 (Riley absent). - Set the Atascosa County 2025 general property-tax rate at 0.387476 per $100 of assessed value. Motion by Commissioner Gillespie; second by Commissioner Pavelic; carried 4-0 (Riley absent). - Set the Farm-to-Market and lateral road rate at 0.072867. Motion by Commissioner Gillespie; second by Commissioner Bowen; carried 4-0 (Riley absent). - Set the debt service rate at 0.000000. Motion by Commissioner Gillespie; second by Commissioner Pavelic; carried 4-0 (Riley absent). - Adopted the total 2025 property-tax rate at 0.482888, the same total rate the court said it had used the prior two years. Motion by Commissioner Gillespie; second by Commissioner Bowen; carried 4-0 (Riley absent).

Why it matters: Court members explained that the county is collecting more in taxes this year because of growth in taxable value (new businesses, homes and property entering the tax roll), not because of a higher tax rate. The county also said the legislative change to notice and taxpayer-impact requirements (referenced during the meeting as changes to the Texas Government Code) took effect Sept. 1, 2025 and required the court to present a taxpayer impact statement during the budget process.

During the public hearing on the budget, Cassandra Cortez and Mary Cardenas, representing county libraries, requested increases in library funding: a $500 rise in the library conference fund (from $10,500 to $11,000) and an increase to per-library allocations; court members said those requests arrived after earlier budget workshops and may be considered in future budget work but were unlikely to be funded in the current adoption.

County officials thanked auditors and staff for preparing the budget. The judge and commissioners said the county's reserves have grown in recent years and characterized that change as improving fiscal stability heading into FY2026.

Actions recorded in this item are formal, recorded votes and will be reflected in the county's minutes and tax filings; the court stated the budget applies to the fiscal year beginning Jan. 1, 2026.