Angelina County commissioners unanimously approved the 2027 budget and a 1-cent Angelina County property tax rate increase, raising the rate to 45.9041 cents per $100 of valuation. Combined with rising property values, the average homeowner tax bill is expected to go up by about 4.52 percent, with the 1-cent rate increase alone accounting for roughly $31.64 of that amount.
The county expects to collect around $28.23 million in property taxes next fiscal year, a $1.76 million increase (6.66 percent) from the current year. Budget drivers include a 3 percent cost-of-living raise for county employees, higher operating costs at the expanded county jail, and an increase in court-appointed defense attorney rates from $75 to $100 per hour.
County Judge Keith Wright said personnel costs required the increase to stay competitive with other local employers when hiring law enforcement and prosecutors, and that commissioners cut costs elsewhere before landing on the new rate.
Sources: Lufkin Daily News (also: KTRE).