Friendswood City Council voted unanimously Monday, Aug. 3, to propose a property tax rate of $0.559723 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2026-27. That's about 4.5 cents above the current rate of $0.514172, which itself marked an increase over the prior year when it was adopted in September 2025.
If approved, the proposed rate would bring the city's portion of a $300,000 home's tax bill to roughly $1,679, up from approximately $1,543 under the current rate.
City Manager Morad Kabiri cited rising debt service obligations, a 2.75% staff merit raise and the need to fund deferred maintenance as drivers of the proposed $129.4 million budget, according to Community Impact. He also pointed to the loss of federal reimbursement for $3.4 million in Hurricane Beryl debris removal and a $35.3 million drop in taxable commercial value caused by House Bill 9, which raised commercial property exemptions from $2,500 to $125,000.
"Friendswood is a slow growth community, so we're going to have this conversation multiple times over the next decade," Kabiri said at the Monday, Aug. 3 meeting. Neighboring cities can rely on new construction revenue to avoid rate hikes, he said, but Friendswood doesn't have that option.
Council member Michael Ross said at the meeting that he worried a 4-cent-plus increase could set a precedent for incremental hikes over the next several years.
Where the current rate stands
The city's official tax rate notice shows the 2025 rate of $0.514172 was adopted Sept. 8, 2025, up from $0.500728 the prior year. The notice states the rate raises more in maintenance and operations taxes than the prior year's rate. On a $300,000 taxable home, that increase added about $40 per year to the city portion of the bill.
The city rate is only one slice of what homeowners pay. Where a home sits determines the full burden.
Galveston County side: The combined 2025 rate is approximately $2.00 per $100, broken down as Friendswood ISD ($1.04), City of Friendswood ($0.514172), Galveston County and Road & Flood ($0.3335) and the Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District ($0.1120). That combined figure is actually lower than the 2023 rate of $2.04, thanks to reductions in the Friendswood ISD and county rates that more than offset the city's increase.
Harris County side: The combined 2025 rate is approximately $2.09 per $100, split among Clear Creek ISD ($0.9690), City of Friendswood ($0.514172), Harris County and related entities ($0.55972) and Harris County Flood Control District ($0.04897). Unlike the Galveston County side, this combined rate is higher than the 2023 figure of $2.01, driven by increases in Harris County and its flood control district.
How to weigh in
The public hearing on the FY 2026-27 tax rate and budget is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 14 at Council Chambers, 910 S. Friendswood Drive. Council will vote to adopt the rate at or after that hearing. Residents can call the city at 281-996-3250 with questions about the budget.
