Atascosa County adopts 2026 budget, keeps total tax rate at 0.482888

Atascosa County Commissioners Court adopted the county's 2026 budget on Sept. 22, 2025, and set the county's 2025 property tax rates in a series of record votes. The court approved the budget and voted to set the general rate at 0.387476, the farm‑to‑market/lateral road (FM/LR) rate at 0.072867, the debt service rate at 0.022545 and a total tax rate of 0.482888 — the same total rate as the prior two years.

The court opened a statutorily required taxpayer impact statement under Texas Government Code section 551.043 and presented a comparison using a median‑valued homestead ($228,700) showing an estimated $1 difference between the proposed budget scenario and the no‑new‑revenue rate. County officials explained that the budget will raise more money overall only because of new property value added to the tax roll, not because of an increased tax rate.

Commissioner Mark Gillespie moved to adopt the budget as presented; Commissioner Pavelic seconded. The court took a record vote, with four votes in favor and Commissioner Riley absent. The court separately ratified the property tax increase reflected in the budget (noting it is generated by new value entering the roll) and approved the archive fund spending authority of $240,000 required under Local Government Code §118.025(g).

County officials described the county's improved reserves during discussion. The presiding judge said the county's cash position had recovered from several years earlier and estimated general fund balances have grown notably, a point cited by the court in explaining budgeting choices.

Votes at a glance - Adopt 2026 Atascosa County budget: passed by record vote, 4‑0 (Commissioner Riley absent). - Ratify property tax increase reflected in the 2026 budget (new value): passed by record vote, 4‑0 (Riley absent). - Adopt general property tax rate 0.387476: passed by record vote, 4‑0 (Riley absent). - Adopt FM/LR tax rate 0.072867: passed by record vote, 4‑0 (Riley absent). - Adopt debt service tax rate 0.022545: passed by record vote, 4‑0 (Riley absent). - Adopt total tax rate 0.482888: passed by record vote, 4‑0 (Riley absent). - Approve archive fund budget $240,000 (Local Government Code §118.025(g)): passed by motion.

Context and next steps Therese Carrasco, county clerk, opened and closed the required public hearings on the budget and the tax rate after no members of the public spoke on those items. The county will publish the adopted rates and proceed with implementation under state reporting requirements. Questions about how the new‑value revenue will be allocated to specific county programs were not resolved during the meeting and remain matters for staff and the commissioners to track during the fiscal year.