Dallas County voters reject a property tax increase for homelessness and mental health

Dallas County voters have rejected a property tax increase that would have kept money flowing to homelessness and mental health programs. Proposition A asked voters to approve a county tax rate 2.4 cents per $100 of value higher than the voter-approval rate, the most a Texas county can adopt each year without going to the ballot.

The county had proposed the increase to sustain programs that were funded in recent years with one-time federal money. With the measure defeated, the county will keep its rate at or below the voter-approval rate for the 2026 tax year and will have to find other ways to pay for the programs or scale them back.

How Texas limits rate increases

Since 2019, Texas has capped how much most local governments can raise their property tax revenue each year without asking voters. For counties and cities, the limit is generally 3.5% more revenue from existing property, not counting new construction. A rate above that level, known as the voter-approval rate, triggers an automatic election. Tax rate elections like Dallas County’s are now a regular part of November ballots across the state.

What Dallas County homeowners pay

A county rate is only one slice of a Texas bill. Homeowners also pay their school district, city and special districts, and the school district is usually the largest share.

Census survey figures for 2020 to 2024 put the typical Dallas County bill at $4,798 a year on a median home worth $303,000, an effective rate of about 1.58%. That is close to the Texas typical rate of 1.49% and well above the national figure of 0.94%. Owners with a mortgage report a typical bill of $5,641, and owners without one $3,746.

For scale, 2.4 cents per $100 of value works out to $24 a year for every $100,000 of taxable value. On a home with $250,000 of taxable value after exemptions, that is about $60 a year.

Other Texas votes

Dallas County was not alone. Several North Texas tax and bond propositions failed on Tuesday, a sign of voter frustration with rising bills even after the state’s recent rounds of relief. In 2025, Texas voters raised the school homestead exemption to $140,000, and to $200,000 for homeowners who are 65 or older or have a disability. Those exemptions apply only to school district taxes, not to county or city taxes.

Common questions

What was Dallas County Proposition A? A proposed county tax rate 2.4 cents per $100 of value above the voter-approval rate, to fund homelessness and mental health programs.

Did it pass? No. Voters rejected it.

What is the typical property tax in Dallas County? About $4,798 a year on a median home worth $303,000, a rate near 1.58%.

Why did Dallas County need a vote? Texas law requires an election when a county wants a rate above its voter-approval rate, which generally allows 3.5% more revenue from existing property each year.