ATX-GEO: Impact 8/13/2026

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Georgetown sets maximum tax rate at $0.363 for FY 2026-27

Georgetown City Manager David Morgan presented the most recent updates to the city’s proposed $1.6 billion budget at a City Council workshop Aug. 11.

Ahead of the new fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, the city will host public hearings on the budget and tax rate Aug. 26 and Sept. 8.

What’s new: With certified property values now available, city officials saw a decrease in overall assessed valuation, primarily due to lower values of existing property, Morgan said. To offset this and cover debt payments, the city proposed a maximum tax rate of $0.363 per $100 valuation, an increase from the current rate of $0.353.

Because the average taxable home value decreased by 2.8%, the city anticipates no increase in the average property tax bill for typical homeowners compared to the current fiscal year, Morgan said.

Digging deeper: The budget emphasizes infrastructure improvements, with over half of the total budget—$903 million—allocated to capital projects. Over $700 million of the capital budget is dedicated to water and wastewater infrastructure.

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Latest News

Rancho San Gabriel neighborhood open in Georgetown

Homebuilder D.R. Horton sold its first home in Rancho San Gabriel in May and officially opened its model in July.

What is it: The new Georgetown neighborhood has 10 floor plans for residents to chooses from, with both single-story and two-story homes. Houses start at 1,236 square feet, offer three to five bedrooms, two-to-three bathrooms and two-car garages.

Other features include:

Stainless steel appliances
Granite or quartz countertops
Laminate wood floors
Front and backyard sod, irrigation system, and landscaped front yard

Smart-home features allow residents to control temperature, lights and locks from their smartphone.

201 Gus Loop, Georgetown

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Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Ice Age Night

Vintage Market Days

Aug. 14, 6:30-8 p.m.
Austin

Aug. 14-15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Round Rock

More info

Austin Steam Train Wild West Rider

Woodsminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Aug. 15, 9 a.m.
Cedar Park

Aug. 15, 7 p.m.
Austin

More info

To submit your own event, click here.

CI Texas

Texas senators consider how to better prepare communities for wildfires

From 2020-25, more than 45,000 wildfires burned over 2.7 million acres of Texas land, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Ahead of the 2027 state legislative session, lawmakers are looking into ways to better prevent wildfires from happening and prepare communities to respond when fires do start.

The background: In 2025, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 34, which required the the Texas A&M Forest Service to create a statewide database of firefighting equipment; established a council to improve emergency communications between local, state and federal agencies; and increased funding for to help rural volunteer fire departments purchase equipment from $30 million to $40 million.

Quote of note: Sen. Kevin Sparks, a Midland Republican who authored the law, said more work needs to be done to increase wildfire preparedness across the state.

"As we move forward, our focus should be on a more proactive approach that prioritizes prevention and mitigation alongside response preparedness," Sparks said during an Aug. 11 hearing of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs.

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Your local team

Adrian Gandara
Editor

Denise Seiler
General Manager

Email [email protected] for story ideas, tips or questions.

Good Morning, Georgetown!

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