Why El Pasoan’s Property Tax Bills Might Go Up Even If the Rate Goes Down

If you’ve heard the city’s latest announcement about lowering the property tax rate and thought, “Finally, some relief!” Well...hold on to your wallet.

Yes, El Paso leaders have proposed lowering the city's property tax rate from 76.5 cents to 75.9 cents per $100 of property value. It’s the lowest rate in a decade. But before you pop the celebratory Topo Chico, here’s the catch: your tax bill still might go up.

What Is the Difference Between Property Tax Rates and Property Values?

Let’s break this down. Imagine property taxes are like a pizza party. The tax rate is how much each person (each dollar of property value) chips in. Now, the city’s saying, “We’re asking everyone to throw in slightly less per person!” That sounds great. But then the guest list (your home’s appraised value) suddenly grows.

With El Paso property values rising more than 5% this year, even with the lower rate, most residents will still end up paying more in taxes. That’s because your tax bill is calculated by multiplying the tax rate by your property’s value. So if your home was worth $200,000 last year and it’s now worth $210,000, you're being taxed on a bigger number.

Why El Paso Residents May Still See Higher Property Tax Bills

That’s how Enrique Ortiz sees it.

“It’s the same thing,” he told KFOX. “They come out with the same money… At the end, it’s all about them wanting more money so they can fund more projects that they want to fund.”

And to be fair, he’s not wrong. The city isn’t exactly trying to trick anyone. They’re just working with a bigger pool of value to tax. Even Chief Financial Officer Robert Cortinas said the higher-than-expected property appraisals gave the city room to lower the rate and bring back funding to some of the programs that were previously cut.

Is the City of El Paso Really Offering Property Tax Relief?

That depends on who you ask.

Micaela Merchant said she sees the city making efforts to help people who need it, especially seniors, veterans, and homeowners who claim a homestead exemption. And City Representative Art Fierro pointed out that the new lower rate still saves the average household about $7 a month compared to what they would have paid if the city had kept the old rate.

Fierro also emphasized that without a slight increase in overall tax revenue, the city can’t afford to fix roads, update parks, or support law enforcement.

“Everybody wishes that we would have a third year of no new revenue,” he said. “But no new revenue doesn’t allow us to lower the debt or fund essential services.”

To find full quotes and the original KFOX article, CLICK HERE.

When Will the New Property Tax Rate Be Finalized?

The El Paso City Council is expected to vote on the final property tax rate on August 19. Until then, residents are encouraged to attend public sessions and voice their opinions. Whether you’re team “invest in city services” or team “stop raising my bill,” now’s your time to speak up.