September 4, 2026

Starbase held its tax-rate hearing: a ~46% rate increase was on the table

The City of Starbase proposed a 2026 property-tax rate of $0.803732 per $100 of taxable value, up about 46% from last year's $0.55, and held the required public hearing September 4 at City Hall. The commission's same-night agenda carried an ordinance adopting a rate of $0.80 even; we'll link the adopted rate when the city publishes the ordinance. Context from the city's own notices: taxable value inside the new city is about $1.19 billion, and the city carries no property-tax-supported debt. One honest caveat the notices themselves make: a 46% rate increase doesn't mean every bill rises 46%; valuations and exemptions move each bill.

Why it matters here: if you're comparing addresses inside Starbase's city limits against greater Brownsville, the city tax rate just became a real line in that comparison. Our relocation guide covers the rest of the housing math.

Sources: BTX Today (Aug. 27) · City of Starbase commission agenda, Sept. 4 (PDF) · KVEO

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