El Paso City Council proposes $132 annual property tax hike

The El Paso City Council voted 5‑3 to introduce an ordinance adopting a voter‑approval property tax rate of 80.9 cents per $100 of assessed value. If approved, the rate would increase the average homeowner’s annual tax bill by about $132, raising the total to roughly $1,883 – a 7.5% rise over the prior year.

The additional revenue is intended to fund the city’s 2026‑27 general fund of about $665 million, with public safety accounting for roughly 57% ($371 million) of that budget. The proposal is part of a broader $1.4 billion all‑funds budget that also addresses rising personnel, infrastructure, and operational costs, while the city faces a $7 million shortfall in property‑tax revenue due to recent state exemptions.