Rockwall County's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget has been filed with the County Clerk. County Judge Frank New announced the filing in a summary of the Aug. 25 Commissioners Court meeting.

The budget would raise total property taxes by $7,434,711 over the current year, a 12.39% increase, according to the proposed budget document posted on the county's website.

How the tax rate was set

Commissioners Court set the proposed tax rate at .28 during a special meeting on Aug. 13. The vote was 3-1.

Commissioner John Stacy of Precinct 4 made the motion, and Commissioner Lorne Liechty of Precinct 3 seconded it. Commissioner Dana Macalik of Precinct 2 also voted in favor. Judge New voted against.

The .28 rate draws on some of the county's unused tax-rate increment and sits above the first draft of the budget, according to meeting minutes. County Auditor Lisa Constant Wylie addressed the court on the budget at that same session.

Commissioner Bobby Gallana of Precinct 1 is also a member of the court. His vote on the 3-1 tax rate motion is not recorded in the available minutes for the Aug. 13 meeting.

What comes next

Commissioners Court voted 4-0 on Aug. 13 to schedule two public hearings for Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 9 a.m. One hearing covers the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget. The other covers the proposed 2026 county tax rate.

Under Texas House Bill 1522, passed by the Legislature in 2025, meeting notices for budget discussions must include a taxpayer impact statement. That statement compares the property tax bill for the median-valued homestead under the current budget with the bill under the proposed budget.

The county intends to adopt the budget on or before Sept. 30, according to meeting records from Aug. 17.

Residents who want to weigh in can attend the Sept. 8 hearing at the Rockwall County Courthouse, 101 E. Rusk, Rockwall.