Consider on first and final reading an ordinance adopting and levying the ad valorem tax rate for maintenance and operation expenditures for the City of Friendswood's fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027, and adopting and levying the ad valorem tax rate for debt service for the City of Friendswood's fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

According to the Texas Property Tax Code and the Texas Truth-in-Taxation Guidelines, the adoption of the tax rate must be a separate item on the City Council meeting agenda. The tax rate must be adopted by the affirmative vote of five members of the City Council. The proposed tax rate of $0.524843 is composed of the maintenance and operations (M&O) rate at $0.406285 and the interest and sinking debt service (I&S) rate at $0 .118558 Truth-in-Taxation Guidelines for Taxing Units Other than Schools, based on Section 26.05(a) of the Texas Tax Code, requires tax rate adoption by September 30th or by the 60th day after the taxing unit receives the certified appraisal roll, whichever date is later, if adopting a tax rate that does not exceed the voter-approval tax rate. Certified property tax values were received on July 24, 2026; making our required tax rate adoption date September 24, 2026.

This motion is scored as EXPANDS_GOVERNMENT (Impact Weight: 8.7/10). Under the Bastiat Liberty Watchdog Index, measures that increase tax rates or fee schedules, issue new debt or Certificates of Obligation, expand regulatory/zoning restrictions on private land use, or authorize unbudgeted spending expansions reduce an official's Freedom Score when voted YES (and reward dissenting NO votes).