By Photo by Phil Hearing / Unsplash
By Lily Lederman | The Now Daily
Bryan homeowners will see the same city property tax rate for another year after the Bryan City Council gave final approval to the rate during a special meeting on Sept. 15.
The city adopted a rate of $0.624 per $100 of taxable property value for fiscal year 2026-27. That is unchanged from the previous year and has remained at that level since fiscal year 2023, when Bryan lowered the rate.
But keeping the rate unchanged does not necessarily mean every homeowner will receive the same tax bill. Bryan’s average taxable homestead value increased this year, meaning the city’s own estimates show the average homeowner paying slightly more despite the unchanged rate.
Bryan’s Property Tax Rate Is Staying at $0.624
Bryan’s newly approved property tax rate is $0.624 for every $100 of taxable property value. According to the city, the rate has remained unchanged since fiscal year 2023 and has not been increased since fiscal year 1999.
For a homeowner, the rate is only one part of determining the final bill. The taxable value of the property also matters. Even when a city leaves its rate unchanged, an increase in a home’s taxable value can result in a higher amount owed.
The Average Bryan Homestead Increased in Value
The city’s taxpayer impact statement shows the average taxable homestead value increasing from $306,495 in fiscal year 2025-26 to $311,402 in fiscal year 2026-27. That is an increase of $4,907, or about 1.6%.
Applying the same $0.624 rate to those values produces an estimated city property tax bill of $1,943.15 this year, compared with $1,912.53 last year. That works out to an estimated increase of $30.62 per year, or roughly $2.55 per month, for the average homestead used in the city’s calculation.
An Unchanged Rate Does Not Guarantee an Unchanged Bill
The distinction between a tax rate and a tax bill is important for Bryan homeowners. The City Council controls the city’s tax rate, while property values are evaluated annually by the Brazos Central Appraisal District.
That means two homeowners could see different changes even though both are subject to the same city rate. A property’s taxable value, applicable exemptions and other factors can affect the final amount owed. The city’s $30.62 figure is based on an average homestead and should not be treated as the exact increase for every Bryan homeowner.
Bryan Will Still Collect More Property Tax Revenue
Although the rate remains unchanged, Bryan’s fiscal year 2027 budget is expected to raise more property tax revenue than the previous year’s budget. The city’s budget notice says the increase is approximately $3.09 million, or 4.68%, with about $2.12 million of that amount coming from new property added to the tax roll.
Growth therefore plays an important role in the city’s finances. New homes, businesses and other taxable development can expand the property tax base without requiring Bryan to increase the rate charged per $100 of taxable value.
Where Bryan’s Property Tax Money Goes
According to the city, about 80% of anticipated property tax revenue will go into Bryan’s General Fund. The remaining 20% will be directed to the Debt Service Fund and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones.
The General Fund supports services residents interact with throughout the year. The city identifies police, fire and emergency operations, parks and recreation, libraries, road and drainage work, traffic management, building inspections, planning and cybersecurity among the services supported by property tax revenue.
The Rate Is Below Two Important State Benchmarks
Bryan’s $0.624 rate is also below the city’s calculated no-new-revenue rate of $0.672321 and voter-approval rate of $0.630480 for fiscal year 2026-27. Because the adopted rate does not exceed those thresholds, the city was not required to hold an election seeking voter approval of the rate.
The no-new-revenue rate is designed to show the rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue from the same properties from one year to the next. The voter-approval rate is a separate statutory benchmark related to how high a taxing unit can set its rate without triggering an election requirement.
Your Total Property Tax Bill Includes More Than Bryan
The estimated $1,943.15 figure represents the City of Bryan portion of the calculation for the average taxable homestead used by the city. It should not be confused with a homeowner’s entire property tax bill.
Bryan notes that final property tax bills can include taxes from the city, county and school district depending on the property’s location. Because those taxing entities establish their own rates, a homeowner’s overall bill can change differently from the city’s portion alone.
What Bryan Homeowners Should Watch Next
For Bryan residents, the biggest takeaway is that the city’s tax rate is not changing, but individual tax bills still depend heavily on taxable property values. Homeowners whose taxable values changed differently from the citywide average may see increases or decreases that do not match the city’s $30.62 example.
Residents can compare their property’s taxable value with the applicable rates from each taxing entity when bills become available. Bryan has also made its fiscal year 2027 budget available to residents online and at the City Secretary’s Office and Clara B. Mounce Library.
Sources:
City of Bryan — Property Tax Rate to Remain Steady