How much could the proposed New Braunfels property tax rate increase your bill?

Quick Answer

New Braunfels City Council is considering a 2026 city property tax rate of $0.415613 per $100 of taxable value, up from last year’s rate of $0.408936.

That is an increase of $0.006677 per $100, or approximately 1.63% in the city tax rate. If your city-taxable value stayed exactly the same, the rate difference would add about $27 per year on a $400,000 taxable value or approximately $2.23 per month.

But do not confuse the city rate with your total New Braunfels property tax rate. Your complete bill can also include a school district, Comal or Guadalupe County, and potentially a MUD, WID, PID, or other special district.

For help estimating the complete tax payment on a specific property, contact Cody Posey Real Estate.

What tax rate is New Braunfels proposing for 2026?

The City of New Braunfels initially prepared its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget using the same city property tax rate as last year: $0.408936 per $100 of taxable value.

During its August 19 budget workshop, City Council instead proposed increasing the rate to $0.415613. That higher number is also the city’s calculated no-new-revenue tax rate.

Here is the direct comparison:

The operations and maintenance portion funds the city’s General Fund. The debt-service portion, also called Interest and Sinking, pays eligible city debt obligations.

The proposed rate is below the voter-approval rate of $0.425030, which is the rate threshold that would generally trigger an election under Texas property-tax rules.

City Council is scheduled to consider the second and final reading of the tax-rate ordinance on September 14, 2026.

How much could the rate increase cost a homeowner?

The cleanest comparison assumes your city-taxable value does not change.

The difference between the existing and proposed rates is $0.006677 per $100 of taxable value. Here is what that difference looks like at several taxable values:

These examples use taxable value, not the home’s list price, purchase price, or market value.

Your actual city tax can be different because exemptions and changes in taxable value affect the calculation. The basic formula is:

Annual city tax = taxable value ÷ 100 × city tax rate

This table also covers only the City of New Braunfels portion. It does not include your county, school district, or any special taxing districts attached to the property.

If the rate is higher, why is it called the no-new-revenue rate?

This is where the language gets confusing.

The no-new-revenue rate is calculated to produce approximately the same property-tax revenue from properties that were taxed in both years, after accounting for changes in taxable values and other required adjustments.

It does not mean:

• Every homeowner’s tax bill stays the same.
• The city collects no additional property-tax revenue.
• New construction produces no revenue.
• Your appraisal cannot increase or decrease.
• Your complete tax bill will remain unchanged.

New properties added to the tax roll are treated separately in the calculation. That is one reason a growing city can use its no-new-revenue rate while still collecting more total property-tax revenue.

The city reports that its total property-tax levy would increase by approximately 3.2%. Budgeted General Fund operations-and-maintenance property-tax revenue would increase from approximately $29.95 million to $31.02 million under the City Council proposal.

In plain English: the proposed rate is the no-new-revenue rate under the state formula, but the city expects to collect more total property-tax revenue as New Braunfels continues adding homes, businesses, and taxable property.

Could your tax bill still increase by more than the examples show?

Yes.

The rate is only half of the property-tax equation. Your bill also depends on your taxable value.

If your taxable value increases while the city rate also increases, your city tax bill can rise by more than the rate-only examples shown above. If your taxable value falls, the higher rate could partially offset that decrease.

This is why saying “the tax rate only increased by a fraction of a cent” does not tell a homeowner everything they need to know. You have to look at both numbers:

1. The tax rate applied by the city.
2. The property’s taxable value after applicable exemptions.

Homeowners should also remember that the city represents only one part of the bill. The school district is commonly the largest taxing entity, and homes in special districts can carry additional taxes that materially change the total monthly payment.

What does this mean for New Braunfels homebuyers?

For most buyers, this city-rate increase by itself is unlikely to make or break a purchase. At a $400,000 city-taxable value, the rate difference is about $2.23 per month.

The larger risk is using the wrong complete tax rate or relying on the previous owner’s tax bill.

A previous owner may have exemptions or an appraisal cap that will not apply to the buyer after closing. New-construction tax records may show only the land value or a partially completed home. Some New Braunfels-area properties are outside the city limits, while others include MUD, WID, or PID costs.

Before writing an offer, verify:

• Whether the property is inside New Braunfels city limits.
• Whether it is in Comal or Guadalupe County.
• Which school district serves the address.
• Which exemptions currently appear on the property.
• Whether any special taxing districts apply.
• Whether the existing tax record includes the completed home.

That address-level tax stack matters far more than a generic “New Braunfels tax rate.”

Trying to calculate the real monthly payment on a New Braunfels home?

Cody will verify the applicable taxing entities, model a realistic post-purchase estimate, and help you compare properties using the complete monthly cost.

Call Cody Posey Real Estate at 830.360.5569 · Get a custom property-cost analysis

What does the proposed rate mean for sellers?

Sellers should not overreact to a roughly 1.63% change in the city rate, but they also should not dismiss property taxes as a buyer concern.

Buyers are payment-sensitive. They are comparing your home against new construction, builder incentives, mortgage-rate buydowns, insurance costs, HOA fees, and competing neighborhoods with different tax structures.

If the current tax record reflects a long-term owner’s capped taxable value, do not present that bill as though it will necessarily be the buyer’s future bill. That can create confusion when the buyer or lender calculates a higher post-purchase estimate.

A stronger selling strategy is to explain the property’s tax structure accurately and then show why the home still competes based on price, condition, location, amenities, and available concessions.

The proposed city-rate change is not likely to determine value by itself. But inaccurate payment expectations can cause buyers to hesitate, renegotiate, or walk away.

What should New Braunfels homeowners do next?

1. Watch the September 14 City Council vote to confirm whether the proposed rate is formally adopted.
2. Check the taxable value and exemptions listed on your appraisal-district account.
3. Separate the City of New Braunfels rate from the complete property-tax rate.
4. Review your mortgage escrow after final tax bills are issued.
5. If you are buying, estimate taxes using a realistic post-purchase taxable value—not necessarily the seller’s current bill.
6. If you are selling, prepare an accurate tax explanation before the property goes on the market.

In Closing

The proposed New Braunfels city property tax rate is higher than last year’s rate, but the direct rate-only impact is relatively small for most homeowners. At a $500,000 city-taxable value, the difference is approximately $33 per year.

The bigger issue is understanding the complete property-tax picture. Taxable value, exemptions, school-district boundaries, county lines, and special districts can change the payment far more than this city-rate adjustment alone.

If you are buying or selling in New Braunfels, I will break down the address-specific tax structure, expected monthly payment, market competition, and negotiation options so you can make the decision with facts instead of headlines.

Call Cody Posey Real Estate at 830.360.5569 to request a property-specific tax and payment analysis.

Sources: City of New Braunfels FY 2027 Proposed Budget and Tax Rate; New Braunfels City Council Tax Rate Ordinance; Texas Comptroller Property Tax Information.