The City of Rockwall, Rockwall County, and the Rockwall Independent School District have recently adopted their 2023 tax rates, collectively achieving over a 7% decrease in the consolidated tax rate from 2022.
The 2022 consolidated tax rate of $1.9367 per $100 of valuation was already considered one of the lowest in the state of Texas. Now, Rockwall residents and businesses will benefit from a consolidated tax rate of $1.7996.
“The City of Rockwall strives to adopt a balanced budget every year, while lowering taxes and continuing to invest in public safety, critical infrastructure, and the high-quality services our residents enjoy,” said Mayor Kevin Fowler, specifically citing the City of Rockwall’s strong sales tax performance as a key to being able to lower property taxes. The City tax rate is considered the lowest in Rockwall’s recorded history.
The City of Rockwall dropped their tax rate from $0.35 per $100 valuation in 2022, to $0.2925 per $100 valuation in 2023. The $0.0575 reduction amounts to a 16.4% drop in their specific tax rate. Rockwall County dropped their tax rate from $0.3131 to $0.2925, a $0.0206 reduction that is equivalent to a 6.6% decrease. Finally, Rockwall Independent School District achieved a $0.059 reduction – from $1.2736 to $1.2146 – amounting to a 4.6% drop. Neither Rockwall County or Rockwall ISD benefit from sales tax collection, likely the biggest reason why their property tax decreases were more modest compared with the City of Rockwall.
It should also be noted that there are no special taxing jurisdictions within the City of Rockwall. So while the community benefits from services like hospitals and a nearby community college, unlike in other jurisdictions, Rockwall residents and businesses are not charged for those services on their tax bill.
“Unfortunately, property taxes can tend to be higher in Texas, due to the fact that we have no state income tax,” said Phil Wagner, REDC President. “However, I credit our elected officials for consistently making a concerted effort to keep the rate as low as possible. Compared to some area communities, our tax rate can be 30 to 40% less, which is amazing consider we still maintain strong local services.”
Lauri Dodd, Public Information Officer for the City of Rockwall, and Jerry Hogan, Rockwall County Herald-Banner contributed to this report.
