County approves tax rate, sets Sept. 8 budget hearing

By Linda Perkins

Anvil Herald reporter

At the Medina County Commissioners Court regular meeting August 24, the court  took a record vote to pass the proposed 2026 Medina County tax rate.

Commissioners also set  a public hearing for Sept. 8 on the 2026-2027 proposed budget.

By a unanimous 5-0 roll-call vote, County Judge Keith Lutz and commissioners Jessica Castiglione, Precinct 1; Larry Sittre, Pct. 2; David Lynch, Pct. 3 and Danny Lawler, Pct. 4 each approved the 2026 proposed tax rate  of 44.34 cents per $100 valuation.  

Judge Lutz said the 2026 proposed tax rate remains unchanged from 2025. 

That rate falls between the No-New Revenue Tax Rate of 43.06 cents per $100 valuation and the Voter Approval Tax Rate of 46.53 cents per $100 valuation.

The no-new-revenue tax rate would raise the same amount of property tax  for Medina County from the same properties in both the 2025 tax year and the 2026 tax year. 

Actual tax bills for 2026 could be higher than the no-new-revenue tax rate for properties whose value has been increased by the Medina Central Appraisal District.  

Commissioners Court will hold a public hearing on the proposed tax rate at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 in Medina County Courthouse Annex, 1300 Avenue M, Hondo in Commissioners Courtroom, Room 165.

The 2026 Voter-Approval Tax Rate of 46.53 cents per $100 valuation would be the highest tax rate that Medina County may adopt without holding an election to seek voter approval of the rate.

Since the proposed 2026 tax rate is not greater than the voter-approval tax rate, the county is not required to hold an election at which voters accept or reject the proposed tax rate. 

However, voters may express support for or opposition to the proposed tax rate by contacting Commissioners Court members, either at their offices or by attending the public hearing.  

The proposed budget can be viewed  in the Medina County Clerk’s Office, 1300 Ave. M, Room 163, Hondo or by clicking on fiscal year 2026-2027 Proposed Budget on the Medina County website at www.medinatx.gov.