The Tomball ISD board of trustees unanimously approved a property tax rate of $1.23 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2022-23 during its Sept. 13 meeting.

This rate is $0.02 less than the FY 2021-22 rate of $1.25, according to district information.

“We have a July 1 fiscal year, so this adoption of the tax rate can’t begin until this point,” Chief Financial Officer Jim Ross said during the meeting. “We have to receive a certified appraisal. So that has now come.”

The governing bodies of taxing units have before the later of Sept. 30 or the 60th day after the date the certified appraisal roll is received to adopt a tax rate, according to Texas Tax Code Section 26.05. TISD received its Harris County appraisal roll Aug. 31, Ross said.

The total rate of $1.23 is made up of a maintenance and operations tax rate of $0.854, which funds daily operations, and an interest and sinking tax rate of $0.376, which funds debt service.

“Historically, what we’ve done is we’ve gone down with the property tax,” Ross said. “We’ve never gone up.”

While the district decreased its tax rate, property values continue to rise. From FY 2021-22, the average market value of properties in Harris County and within the Tomball ISD boundaries increased 21% and 24.8%, respectively, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported.

During Ross’ presentation, Trustee Michael Pratt stressed the tax rate decrease.

“We’re doing our part at Tomball ISD with a $0.02 tax rate decrease,” Pratt said. “And that’s the message that I’m getting out of this conversation.”