Residents of Georgetown, Texas, are facing a mix of financial shifts as the City Council has passed a $1.3 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which includes a lowered property tax rate alongside increased utility rates. According to CBS Austin, the new budget reduces the property tax rate to 35.3 cents per $100 valuation, a move that Mayor Josh Schroeder says is meant to reflect "careful financial stewardship" while still making strategic investments to support Georgetown's growth.
That growth comes with a cost, however, as Georgetown homeowners will see their average property tax bill rise by about $14 this year due to increased property values. The investment in infrastructure and services means hikes in utility rates for water, wastewater, electricity, and solid waste—effective adjustments aimed to maintain the quality of life by improving streets, public safety, and customer service all those meaningful enhancements that come with the understanding that living in a refined community such as Georgetown is buoyed by a tapestry of reliable utilities and essential services. The water rates will surge by 9 percent, the wastewater rates will jump 12 percent for all types of customers, while residential electric and solid waste rates will climb 2 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively, as detailed in the budget summary available on the city's official website.
Emphasizing the benefits of these changes, Mayor Schroeder highlighted the continued investment in services and infrastructure he believes make Georgetown an attractive place to reside. "In the coming fiscal year, residents will see continued investment in the services and infrastructure that make Georgetown a great place to live—from reliable utilities and well-maintained streets to enhanced public safety and customer service," Schroeder told Hello Georgetown.
Among the notable features of the budget is the creation of 70 new positions within the city's services, including 21 dedicated to police and fire departments, a gesture towards bolstering Georgetown's commitment to public safety; additionally, the budget outlines measures for employee retention, including an average 3% merit increase and further market reviews, and it plans for a reevaluation of parks, recreation, and library service fees for nonresidents, all while scaling back on lesser-used or lower-impact services, such as closing an underutilized pool and trimming down on the less necessary winter mowing or landscape maintenance frequency, this balance act of expansion and cutback laying bare the challenge of catering to a burgeoning population's needs while keeping a grip on fiscal health. The adopted budget book, which will provide a more comprehensive breakdown of the city’s financial plan, is set to be published online later this year.
