October 13, 2026 · City of Starbase · Budget

Starbase's $10 million budget puts police first, and its tax rate is final at 80 cents per $100

The City of Starbase has posted the signed ordinance adopting its 2026-27 budget, without the budget itself attached. The version in the Aug. 19 meeting packet, which the minutes say the commission adopted "as presented," totals $10,043,075, and public safety is the biggest piece at $4,459,963, about 44%. The commission adopted the budget 3-0 on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and set the 2026 property tax rate at $0.80 per $100 of taxable value on Friday, Sept. 4, also 3-0. Last year's rate was $0.55.

• Where the money goes: police, municipal court and the volunteer fire department, $4,459,963. Administration, $2,703,261. A new capital reserve fund, $2,163,252. Beach cleaning and conservation, $481,600. Community projects such as the library and events, $235,000. The commission approves each category's total, and staff manage the line items inside it.
• The police year: the budget calls 2026-27 the first full budget year with "a fully staffed municipal police department." It plans a police chief, sworn officers and a part-time officer pool, plus "vehicles, equipment, radios, and training." It has no separate vehicle line. The city's police Cybertruck request gives no price either.
• The tax rate: $0.80 is a bit under the $0.803732 the commission proposed in August, the most it could set without an election. On $100,000 of taxable value, the city's share of the bill is $800 this year, up from $550 at last year's rate, if the value didn't change. The ordinance's required statement says about $24.91 more on a $100,000 home. That figure compares with the no-new-revenue rate of $0.775093, not with last year's $0.55.
• Where the tax money comes from: the budget's cover says property taxes bring in $5,268,710 more than last year, up 123%, and $5,118,972 of that comes from new property added to the tax roll. The roll the city approved lists $1,188,024,763 of taxable value. The budget figured those amounts at the proposed rate, slightly above the final one.
• Reserves: the same night, the commission adopted a policy to keep at least 20% of operating spending in reserve, with a 33% target. The city administrator reported about $2.75 million in cash on hand and a final note payment of about $1 million due in September, per the Aug. 19 minutes.
• When it's due: 2026 city taxes are due Oct. 1 and become delinquent if not paid by Jan. 31, 2027. The Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector collects them.

Why it matters here: if you're comparing an address inside Starbase's city limits with one in greater Brownsville, the city line on the tax bill is now set. Our Sept. 4 story on the rate hearing. Our relocation guide covers the rest of the housing math.

Sources: City of Starbase, Ordinance 2026-22, 2026-27 budget (signed) · City of Starbase, Ordinance 2026-23, 2026 tax rate · City of Starbase, Aug. 19 meeting packet (budget, pp. 27-34) · City of Starbase, Aug. 19 minutes · City of Starbase, Sept. 4 minutes

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