Katy ISD Board Maintains Tax Rates for the Second Consecutive Year

KATY, TX – The Katy ISD Board of Trustees met Sept. 22 and approved the District’s Maintenance and Operations (M&O) and Debt Service (Interest & Sinking, I&S) tax rates, maintaining the District’s current overall tax rate of $1.12 per $100 of property valuation. Trustees kept Katy ISD’s total tax rate fixed for the second consecutive year. “Our goal is to ensure that every dollar spent continues to support student success while maintaining the financial health of our district,” said Katy ISD Board President Lance Redmon. This fall, the District successfully opened Boudny and Cross Elementary in the fast-growing northwest quadrant of the District, expanding to 80 campuses while holding the tax rate steady. Budgeted student enrollment increased by more than 500 children (0.5 percent) compared to the 2024-25 school year.

Approved Tax Rates: 2025-26
Maintenance & Operations/General Operating (M&O)	$0.7271
Interest & Sinking/Debt Service	$0.3900
Total Tax Rate	$1.1171

Katy ISD Chief Financial Officer Christopher J. Smith explained that the state’s funding towards tax compression and property tax relief is designed to ease the burden of rising appraisal values set by counties. In addition, the expected increase in the state’s homestead exemption should further decrease tax bills this school year. The increase in the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, ($200,000 for seniors and disabled homeowners) as approved by the state legislature, will be on the November 2025 ballot. The Board approved tax rates will take effect immediately and will appear on tax statements later this fall. Students eagerly awaited the start of school this year, as Katy ISD opened Boudny Elementary and Cross Elementary with support from taxpayers.