Lavaca County's Commissioners' Court has approved a new budget and tax rate for the fiscal year 2027, marking a notable increase in property tax revenue. The decision was made during a public meeting held on September 28, 2026, as reported by the Lavaca County Official Site.
According to the proposed budget, Lavaca County will raise $1,195,787 more in property tax revenue than the previous year, representing a 5.60% increase. This increase includes $1,441,726 from new properties added to the tax roll. The property tax rate has been set at $0.6041 per $100 valuation, as noted in the Notice of Meeting to Vote on Tax Rate.
The Commissioners' Court emphasized that the proposed tax rate is not greater than the no-new-revenue tax rate, meaning that it will not increase property taxes for existing properties from the previous year. The court also highlighted that the voter-approval tax rate is $0.6346, which is higher than the proposed rate, thus negating the need for a voter approval election.
The fiscal year 2027 budget, as detailed by Barbara K. Steffek, Clerk County Court Lavaca Co., TX, includes allocations for various county departments and services. The budget outlines funds for general operations, road and bridge maintenance, and farm-to-market projects, among others.
In addition to budgetary matters, the Commissioners' Court also made several proclamations. October 7, 2026, has been declared as Children's Health Day in Lavaca County, and the week of October 4-10, 2026, has been designated as National 4-H Week, as per the Commissioners' Court meeting agenda.
Furthermore, the court accepted a monetary donation from EOG Resources to the Lavaca County Office of Emergency Management, demonstrating continued support for local emergency services.
Lavaca County's approach to transparency in budget discussions is reinforced by the implementation of a taxpayer impact statement, as required by House Bill 1522. This statement, included in the Taxpayer Impact Statement, provides residents with a clear view of how the proposed budget will affect their property tax bills.
Overall, the fiscal decisions made by Lavaca County's Commissioners' Court reflect a commitment to managing increased property values while maintaining transparency and community engagement in the budgeting process.