Rockwall County homeowners would pay a significantly higher property tax rate under the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, signed Monday, Aug. 10, by County Judge Frank New.
The proposed budget would raise $7,434,711 more in total property taxes than the current year, a 12.39% increase. The tax rate would climb from $0.2510 to $0.274690 per $100 valuation.
Of that $7.4 million increase, $2,369,131 is projected to come from new property added to the tax roll. The remaining roughly $5 million reflects higher taxes on existing properties.
The proposed rate of $0.274690 equals the voter-approved tax rate for 2026. That's the ceiling. It is the maximum the Commissioners Court can set without triggering a voter-approval election under Texas law. The county's no-new-revenue rate, which would collect the same total from existing properties as last year, is $0.249440, about 2.5 cents below the proposed rate.
Debt and spending drivers
A rising debt rate accounts for part of the increase. The debt service portion would jump from $0.0531 to $0.0658 per $100 valuation, an increase of 1.27 cents. Total outstanding bond debt will stand at $115,640,000 as of Oct. 1, 2026.
The General Fund tax line alone grows roughly $4 million, from $47,492,307 budgeted in FY2026 to $51,535,718 proposed for FY2027. The budget also includes capital projects funds for a county jail expansion and remodel.
Among smaller line items, the Rockwall ISD school resource officer reimbursement rises about $52,000 to $411,336, and dispatch services revenue jumps from $300,000 to $450,000. A new $85,800 rifle-resistant body armor grant appears for the first time.
The Road & Bridge rate stays flat at $0.0001 per $100 valuation.
What happens next
The budget document is labeled "Work Budget Version 0003," indicating it is a working draft, not a final adopted plan. Commissioners Court is scheduled to take up the budget at its regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Lorne Liechty said in an Aug. 9 Facebook post that the court is "about to begin a series of special meetings to establish our budget for Fiscal Year 2027," adding, "I would encourage everyone to watch those meetings, as setting the budget is one of the most important tasks we address each year."
County Judge Frank New, who signed the budget document Aug. 10, has not commented publicly on the proposed increase. The Rockwall Herald reached out to New's office but had not received a response by publication time.
Residents can attend the Aug. 11 Commissioners Court meeting or watch it online. Liechty's post indicated additional work sessions will precede a final adoption vote.
