Lytle council approves 4.5% tax hike for 2026

By Anton Riecher
By a 4-0 vote, the Lytle City Council voted at its Sept. 28 meeting to approve a 2026 ad valorem tax rate of $.0485 per $100 valuation, an increase of 4.578 percent from the previous year. Municipal taxes on the average Lytle homestead now stands at $1,029, an increase of 31.9 percent.
Mayor Ruben Gonzalez said the increase represents less than half a cent per $100 valuation.
“It’s going from $.483 to $.485,” Gonzalez said. “So that’s how much of an increase it is.”
The increase supports a fiscal year 2026-2027 city budget of $8.976 million, also approved by a 4-0 council vote. Among the increase is a three percent cost-of-living adjustment for city employees.
A public hearing on the proposed tax rate was opened and closed with no additional public comment.
The $.0485 rate represents a debt service tax rate of $.41139 per $100 valuation combined with a tax rate of $.41139 per $100 valuation cover maintenance and operations.
District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez put forward the separate motions on the budget and tax rate. District 1 Alderwoman Anna Carrillo seconded the budget motion and District 3 Alderman David Emery seconded the motion on the rate increase.
District 5 Alderman Matthew Martinez was absent from the meeting. District 2 Alderman Richard Hughes had earlier voted against…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!