Houston City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday, October 14, to adopt a city property tax rate of 51.9190 cents per $100 of taxable value for 2026, the same rate the city levied last year. Community Impact reported that a home with a taxable value of $340,000 would owe about $1,765.25 in city property taxes under the adopted rate, and that payments on 2026 bills are due by January 31, 2027.
During the discussion, Council Member Edward Pollard asked what the city would collect at a rate of 54.1650 cents, and Finance Director Melissa Dubowski said the higher rate would generate about $87 million more. Dubowski also told the council that the difference between the adopted rate and a rate of 55 cents would come to roughly $9 a month for an average homeowner. Mayor John Whitmire said the city should hold the line, telling the council that this is no time for the city of Houston to raise taxes. Some council members said a rate increase may still be needed later to close the city’s budget gaps.
This is a Lake Houston area story because Kingwood sits inside Houston city limits, so the rate the council adopted on Wednesday is the city rate Kingwood homeowners will see on their 2026 tax bills.
