Politics
Corpus Christi Freezes Property Tax Rate While Houston, San Antonio Raise
Corpus Christi residents will calculate their 2026 property tax bills under a city ordinance that holds the effective rate steady while several peer Texas cities adjust rates upward.
How we reported this
The City of Corpus Christi adopted its fiscal year 2026 property tax rate ordinance last month, keeping the effective rate at the same level applied in 2025 for all taxable property inside city limits. The ordinance applies to roughly 320,000 residents and covers the general fund that pays for police, fire, parks and street maintenance. This approach differs from the rate changes approved by Houston and San Antonio under the same provisions of the Texas Tax Code.
State law requires every Texas municipality to adopt a tax rate by September after publishing a proposed budget and holding public hearings. Corpus Christi released its preliminary budget documents in June, showing revenue projections tied to the unchanged rate. The decision comes as Nueces County appraisal values rose again this year, which would have increased bills even without a rate change.
Homeowners on the south side near Ocean Drive will see their bills determined by the same rate applied to the new appraised value set by the Nueces County Appraisal District. Renters may face indirect effects if landlords pass along higher costs in lease renewals. Workers at the Port of Corpus Christi and the refineries along the ship channel pay taxes on both residential and business property covered by the ordinance.
Rate Comparisons With Peer Cities
City budget papers list the Corpus Christi effective rate as lower than the rates adopted this year by Houston and San Antonio. Policy analysts note that the city’s choice aligns more closely with smaller coastal municipalities such as Galveston and Port Aransas than with the three largest Texas cities. The legislation states that any future increase above the no-new-revenue rate requires a separate vote and public notice.
Next Steps for Residents and City Services
The government says the policy will remain in place through the end of the fiscal year ending September 2027. City staff will present a mid-year revenue report in January 2027, after which council can decide whether to adjust the rate for the following budget cycle. Property owners can review their individual notices from the appraisal district and attend the August public hearing on the final tax rate ordinance.