Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick’s office issued a report that shows all Texas County entities did not levy a 2023 tax rate that exceeded the certified tax rate. In fact, three set levies that were below the ceiling, including Houston School District, Cabool School District and Texas County government.
The report provides property tax rates reported to the state auditor’s office for local government entities, such as cities, counties, townships, and school and fire districts. In 2023, staff reviewed 4,846 property tax rates of 2,804 taxing authorities. For the ninth year in a row — and the ninth year overall — the office found that no taxing authorities levied a tax rate that exceeded the certified tax rate.
At Houston, the debt service levy ceiling was nearly 90 cents per each $100 assessed valuation. It was set at 80 cents. At Cabool, a temporary operating fund could have been almost a penny higher. Texas County government’s general revenue fund was set at nearly 10 cents per each $100 of assessed valuation. It could have been 27.3 cents.
Texas County’s assessed valuation totaled about $298.5 million, Fitzpatrick said.
The office has reviewed rates each year since 1985 to determine whether they are compliant with state law and to monitor rate adjustments to ensure revenue neutrality, as required by law. The office does not make recommendations on property tax rates or increases.