Every taxing unit on a Brownsville bill
Your bill adds up one line per taxing unit. These are the units on the 2025 appraisal roll for homes inside Brownsville city limits, with Brownsville ISD as the school district. Rates are dollars per $100 of taxable value.
| Taxing unit | M&O 2025 | I&S 2025 | 2025 rateadopted | 2026 rateadopted, where confirmed | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron CountyCounty | 0.387046 | 0.037347 | 0.424393 | 0.424393 | Cameron CAD 2025 rates, Cameron CAD 2025 roll, Cameron CAD 2026 adopted rates |
| South Texas ISD (magnet district)School district (countywide) | 0.049200 | 0.000000 | 0.049200 | 0.049200 | Cameron CAD 2025 rates, Cameron CAD 2026 adopted rates |
| City of BrownsvilleCity | 0.355526 | 0.247978 | 0.603504 | 0.603504 | Cameron CAD 2025 rates, Comptroller 2025 city file, Cameron CAD 2025 roll, Cameron CAD 2026 adopted rates |
| Texas Southmost College DistrictCollege district | 0.091344 | 0.020465 | 0.111809 | 0.099734 | Cameron CAD 2025 rates, Comptroller 2025 special district file, Cameron CAD 2025 roll, Cameron CAD 2026 adopted rates |
| Brownsville Navigation DistrictNavigation district | 0.025589 | 0.000000 | 0.025589 | 0.025589 | Cameron CAD 2025 rates, Comptroller 2025 special district file, Cameron CAD 2025 roll, Cameron CAD 2026 adopted rates |
| Brownsville ISDSchool district | 0.786900 | 0.044560 | 0.831460 | 0.771600 | Cameron CAD 2025 rates, Comptroller 2025 school file, Cameron CAD 2025 roll, Cameron CAD 2026 adopted rates |
| Combined (Brownsville ISD) | 2.045955 | 1.974020 |
The Comptroller's 2025 county file adds a Cameron County road and bridge rate of 0.049765; Cameron CAD's adopted-rate sheets and every sampled 2025 roll record show 0.424393 only, which is used here.
What makes up the Brownsville rate
Brownsville ISD is the biggest line on a Brownsville bill: 0.7716 of the 1.9740 per $100, or 39% of the 2026 total. The countywide units (Cameron County and South Texas ISD (magnet district)) add 0.4736.
The City of Brownsville's own 2026 rate is 0.603504, the fourth highest of the 6 Cameron County city rates on this site (from 0.262159 to 0.7800).
Units that tax this part of the county: Texas Southmost College District (0.099734): Brownsville, Los Fresnos and Point Isabel ISD areas (all sampled Brownsville, Los Fresnos, Port Isabel and SPI homes); Brownsville Navigation District (0.025589): Brownsville and Los Fresnos (all sampled).
From 2025 to 2026 the combined rate went from 2.0460 to 1.9740 (−0.0719). Changes by unit: Brownsville ISD 0.83146 to 0.7716 (no debt service rate in 2026); Texas Southmost College District 0.111809 to 0.099734.
At 2025 rates (the latest year with every city's rate), Brownsville's combined 2.0460 is the 3rd lowest of the 20 Valley cities on this site and the 3rd lowest of the 6 in Cameron County.
Which school district?
Brownsville city limits cross more than one school district, and the school district is the biggest line on the bill. About 91.0% of the homes are in Brownsville ISD, so the tables on this page default to it. Your district depends on your exact address. Look it up on the Cameron Appraisal District property search.
| School district | Share of homes in city limits (2020) | Combined rate 2025 | Combined rate 2026 | Homestead tax at $300,000 (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville ISD | about 91.0% | 2.0460 | 1.9740 | $4,839 |
| Los Fresnos CISD | about 9.0% | 2.0948 | 2.0727 | $4,997 |
On a $300,000 homestead the Brownsville ISD part of Brownsville pays about $4,839 a year, and the Los Fresnos CISD part about $4,997, a difference of $158.
Of the 63,322 housing units the 2020 Census counted inside Brownsville city limits, 57,619 in Brownsville ISD and 5,676 in Los Fresnos CISD.
Units that tax only some homes
Cameron County Drainage District #1 (2026 rate 0.02678, 2025 rate 0.026983) was on 22 of the 39 sampled homes inside city limits. Valley MUD #2 (2026 rate 0.4385, 2025 rate 0.4385) taxes specific subdivisions (for example Heights at Riverbend II), and the Paseo de la Resaca MUDs #1 (2026 rate 0.1865, 2025 rate 0.2750), #2 (2026 rate 0.1625, 2025 rate 0.2500) and #3 (2026 rate 0.2650, 2025 rate 0.2850) tax the Paseo de la Resaca subdivisions. Cameron CAD's 2026 adopted-rate sheet adds a new Paseo de la Resaca Landscape and Maintenance District (2026 rate 0.1000; not on the 2025 rate lists). A public improvement district (PID) in a newer subdivision bills an assessment, not a tax rate; the title company can tell you if a lot has one.
A Brownsville mailing address can sit outside city limits, where there is no city tax and an emergency services district may tax instead. Your appraisal district record lists every unit on your home.
Estimate your Brownsville property tax
Annual tax only. Pick your school district, enter the appraised value from your notice, and choose your exemptions.
The percentage is each district's share of the city's homes (2020 Census). Your exact district depends on your address.
Estimated property tax
$4,839 a year
Estimated 2026 property tax for Brownsville, $300,000 taxable value before exemptions, combined rate 1.974020 per $100.
| Taxing unit | Rate per $100 | Taxable value | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron County | 0.424393 | $300,000 | $1,273 |
| South Texas ISD (magnet district) | 0.049200 | $295,000 | $145 |
| City of Brownsville | 0.603504 | $300,000 | $1,811 |
| Texas Southmost College District | 0.099734 | $300,000 | $299 |
| Brownsville Navigation District | 0.025589 | $300,000 | $77 |
| Brownsville ISD | 0.771600 | $160,000 | $1,235 |
| Total (estimate) | 1.974020 | $4,839 |
Estimate. Local-option exemptions and the 65+ school tax ceiling can lower it; your tax office has your exact bill.
What a Brownsville home pays at $200,000, $300,000 and $400,000
| Appraised value | No exemptions | Homestead | Homestead, 65 or older |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $3,948 | $2,865 | $2,402 |
| $300,000 | $5,922 | $4,839 | $4,376 |
| $400,000 | $7,896 | $6,813 | $6,350 |
What the exemptions are worth in Brownsville
| Exemption | Saves a year | Tax left |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead ($140,000 off Brownsville ISD, $5,000 off South Texas ISD) | $1,083 | $4,839 |
| Add 65 or older, or disabled ($60,000 more off Brownsville ISD) | $463 | $4,376 |
| Add a veteran rating of 70% or more ($12,000 off every unit) | $237 | $4,602 |
| Veteran with a 100% rating or individual unemployability | $4,839 | $0 |
Rules and forms: how each exemption works, the homestead guide and the disabled veteran guide.
New construction in Brownsville
New-home communities in Brownsville on this site, with the tax stack each community page uses (school district and combined rate). Community pages use 2025 adopted rates; Cameron County's 2026 adopted rates are in the table above.
- Palo Alto Groves, Esperanza Homes: Los Fresnos CISD, 2.1218 per $100
- Villas Las Lagunas, Esperanza Homes: Los Fresnos CISD, 2.1218 per $100
- The Heights at Riverbend II, Hakes Brothers: Brownsville ISD, 2.4845 per $100
Protest deadline
Who sends the bill, and when it is due
The Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector, (956) 544-0800, collects for every taxing unit on these pages. Your statement lists each tax. Online: cameroncountytx.gov.
2026 bills go out in October and November 2026 and are on time if paid by Monday, Feb. 1, 2027, because Jan. 31 falls on a Sunday (Tax Code 31.02, 1.06). Penalties and installment plans.
Nearby cities
Questions
How much are property taxes on a $300,000 house in Brownsville?
About $5,922 a year with no exemptions, $4,839 with a homestead exemption and $4,376 at 65 or older (2026 rates, Brownsville ISD).
What is the property tax rate in Brownsville, TX?
1.9740 per $100 (1.97%) for most homes in 2026: 6 taxing units (2025: 2.0460).
Which school district am I in?
Most homes inside Brownsville city limits (about 91.0%) are in Brownsville ISD. Others are in Los Fresnos CISD (about 9.0%). Check your address on the Cameron Appraisal District property search.
When and where do I pay Brownsville property taxes?
The Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector, (956) 544-0800, collects for every taxing unit on these pages. Your statement lists each tax. 2026 bills are on time if paid by Monday, Feb. 1, 2027, because Jan. 31 is a Sunday.
Next steps
- Living in Brownsville: the Brownsville community guide.
- Building or buying new: new construction in Brownsville (each community page shows its own tax stack).
- Countywide view: Cameron County property tax rates, and all 20 Valley cities compared.
- Mortgage and affordability math: calculators.
From Amy
Protesting your home's value? I can pull recent sales of comparable homes near yours from the MLS for your hearing. I help with single-family homes only, not farms, ranches, duplexes, multifamily or commercial property, and I do not file protests for you. Book a call. I work in English and Spanish.
Sources and method
Units: 39 sampled Cameron Appraisal District 2025 roll records for homes inside Brownsville city limits (sampled Oct 14, 2026). Rates: checked Oct 16, 2026 against the sources below. Full method and data file.