Travis county cities located within the Travis Central Appraisal District are required by the state to approve a tax rate by Sept. 30.
However, because of a high number of property tax value protest filings, TCAD has been delayed in providing local entities with an estimated total property value, said Robert Wood, West Lake Hills city manager. The value allows city council members to estimate their budget and set a tax rate more accurately, he said.
“Hopefully we’ll have some kind of numbers by Aug. 12,” Wood said. “But we’ll be setting the rate somewhat blind.”
According to the Texas comptroller, cities must adopt a new property tax rate by Sept. 30 or 60 days after receiving their appraisal roll—whichever date comes later. Rates must be adopted three to 14 days after a city’s second public hearing on the matter.
Budget/tax rate calendars
West Lake Hills City Council will set a proposed property tax rate and 2015-16 budget at its Aug. 12 meeting at 7 p.m. with public hearings to be held during council meetings Aug. 26 and Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. The final rate should be adopted Sept. 21, Wood said.
The current property tax rate for the city is $.0534 per $100 valuation.
Bee Cave will hold public hearings for the city’s proposed 2015-16 budget and property tax rate during its regular City Council meeting Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. The city’s current property tax rate is $0.02 per $100 of valuation.
Lakeway will set its proposed property tax rate and 2015-16 budget Sept. 3 at 2 p.m., followed by hearings Sept. 14 at 2 p.m., Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m. and Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. Its property tax rate is currently $0.17 per $100 valuation.
Austin’s proposed budget hearings will be held Aug. 20 and 27, and its proposed tax rate hearings will be held Sept. 10 and 17. The city’s property tax rate is currently $0.4809 per $100 valuation.
Rollingwood’s proposed budget hearing will be held Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. The city’s proposed property tax rate hearing will be Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. Its current property tax rate is $0.2066 per $100 valuation.
