Local Government • Talk of Friendswood
Friendswood 2026 Tax Rate Adopted: What the Change Means for Homeowners
The city’s final rate is higher than last year’s, but below the proposal considered in August. Here is how the difference translates into dollars.
By Talk of Friendswood3-minute read
The Friendswood 2026 Tax Rate has been adopted, giving homeowners a final number to use when reviewing the municipal portion of their tax bills.
The city confirms that council adopted a rate of $0.524843 per $100 of property valuation on September 14, along with the fiscal year 2026–27 budget. Its tax information page lists the prior-year rate at $0.514172.
How the final rate compares
The adopted rate is below the $0.559723 proposal council advanced in August. Community Impact’s August 4 report identified debt payments, proposed employee merit raises and deferred maintenance among the pressures officials cited at that stage of the budget process.
Those were explanations for the proposal. A comparison of the final spending plan with the earlier draft would be needed to establish which individual spending items changed before adoption.
What the rate difference costs
Talk of Friendswood calculated the following examples by dividing each taxable value by 100 and multiplying by the applicable city rate. The same taxable value is used in both years to isolate the effect of the rate change.
| City taxable value | 2025 rate | 2026 rate | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $514.17 | $524.84 | $10.67 |
| $300,000 | $1,542.52 | $1,574.53 | $32.01 |
| $400,000 | $2,056.69 | $2,099.37 | $42.68 |
| $500,000 | $2,570.86 | $2,624.22 | $53.36 |
Figures are rounded to the nearest cent. These examples cover city tax only, use taxable value after applicable exemptions, and do not model a tax ceiling, a change in value or other adjustments to an individual account.
Why an individual bill can change differently
The Texas Comptroller explains that property tax combines a taxable base with a rate, and that exemptions can reduce the value subject to taxation. That is why a home’s sales price or market value alone is insufficient to calculate its final bill.
Homeowners should compare the city taxable value and any applicable exemptions or limitations on their own records. A different taxable value can change the result even when the rate comparison is straightforward.
Each local taxing entity also sets its own rate. School, county and special-district charges must be reviewed separately; the city rate is one part of the total property tax calculation. The Comptroller directs property owners to the relevant appraisal district for questions about appraisals and exemptions, and to the individual taxing unit for its budget and tax rate.