COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — Collin County commissioners voted 4-1 Monday to raise the property tax rate for the first time in 33 years, approving a fiscal year 2027 budget that increases the rate about 2.4%.
The new rate will set the county’s property tax at about 15.1 cents per $100 of a home’s value, up from about 14.9 cents under the current rate. The new fiscal year starts Oct. 1.
County Judge Chris Hill cast the lone dissenting vote, citing the effect of the increase on taxpayers. Hill has opposed the county’s budget and tax rate in recent years.
The higher rate will generate about $16.3 million in additional property tax revenue for the county.
The median home value in Collin County reached $517,911 this year. Under the new tax rate, a homeowner with a homestead exemption and a home at the median value will pay about $744.98 in county property taxes.
The median home value stood at $480,773 last year, when a homeowner with a homestead exemption paid about $682.10 under the previous tax rate.
Hill seeks budget cuts
Hill proposed cutting each county department’s budget by 2.67% and eliminating employee raises to avoid a tax increase. Commissioners did not advance his proposal.
Hill made the same proposals twice during previous Commissioners Court meetings.
Hill said county taxpayers who do not receive regular pay increases will effectively finance salary increases for county employees.
“You’ve got a transfer of wealth basically from the non-county employees to the county employees because everyone in the county has to pay our taxes but the county employees are getting raises faster than everyone else,” Hill said.
Commissioner Susan Fletcher defended the employee raises, saying the county needs competitive salaries to recruit and retain workers.
Fletcher also said county departments already operate with lean budgets.
“We have asked our departments every year, don’t go ask for more than you need,” she said. “Find where you can cut.”
Commissioners cite population growth
The Texas Public Policy Foundation reported that Collin County’s spending grew more slowly than population and inflation from 2015 through 2025.
Collin County has also experienced significant population growth, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Commissioner Darrell Hale said the county’s growth and tight budgeting leave little room for additional cuts.
“I can’t support that, given how tight we already run,” Hale said during the Aug. 31 Commissioners Court meeting. “And we were digging for every single dollar that we possibly could, even this budget cycle.”
