Countywide taxing units
These units tax every home in Starr County on the sampled records. City, school district and special district lines are added on top.
| Taxing unit | M&O 2025 | I&S 2025 | 2025 rateadopted | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starr CountyCountyIncludes farm-to-market/flood control 0.1984 | 0.660600 | 0.048000 | 0.708600 | Comptroller 2025 county file, Starr CAD roll record, Starr CAD roll record (Roma) |
| Starr County Memorial Hospital DistrictHospital district | 0.250400 | 0.000000 | 0.250400 | Comptroller 2025 special district file, Starr CAD roll record, Starr CAD roll record (Roma) |
| Starr County Drainage DistrictDrainage district | 0.001500 | 0.000000 | 0.001500 | Comptroller 2025 special district file, Starr CAD roll record, Starr CAD roll record (Roma) |
| South Texas College DistrictCollege district | 0.140000 | 0.022000 | 0.162000 | Comptroller 2025 special district file, Starr CAD roll record |
| Countywide total | 1.122500 |
Every Starr County city on this site
| City | Main school district | Combined 2025 | Homestead tax at $300,000 (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande City | Rio Grande City Grulla ISD (all homes) | 2.8804 | $6,916 |
| Roma | Roma ISD (all homes) | 2.8371 | $6,872 |
School districts
The school district is the biggest line on most bills. These are the districts that reach the cities above, with each one's share of the city's homes (2020 Census).
| Taxing unit | M&O 2025 | I&S 2025 | 2025 rateadopted | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande City Grulla ISDSchool district | 0.693200 | 0.534700 | 1.227900 | Comptroller 2025 school file, Starr CAD roll record |
| Roma ISDSchool district | 0.707200 | 0.459200 | 1.166400 | Comptroller 2025 school file, Starr CAD roll record (Roma) |
- Rio Grande City Grulla ISD: Rio Grande City (all)
- Roma ISD: Roma (all)
Units that tax only some areas
On the sampled Starr County records, every unit outside the city and school district was countywide.
Outside city limits
Homes outside Rio Grande City and Roma pay no city tax; the county, hospital, drainage and college districts and the school district still apply.
Estimate your Starr County property tax
Annual tax only. Choose the city and school district, then your value and 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
$6,916 a year
Estimated 2025 property tax for Rio Grande City, $300,000 taxable value before exemptions, combined rate 2.880400 per $100.
| Taxing unit | Rate per $100 | Taxable value | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starr County | 0.708600 | $300,000 | $2,120 |
| Starr County Memorial Hospital District | 0.250400 | $300,000 | $751 |
| Starr County Drainage District | 0.001500 | $300,000 | $5 |
| South Texas College District | 0.162000 | $300,000 | $486 |
| City of Rio Grande City | 0.530000 | $300,000 | $1,590 |
| Rio Grande City Grulla ISD | 1.227900 | $160,000 | $1,965 |
| Total (estimate) | 2.880400 | $6,916 |
Estimate. Local-option exemptions and the 65+ school tax ceiling can lower it; your tax office has your exact bill.
Homestead, 65+ and veteran exemptions in Starr County
- Homestead, $140,000 off school district value (Tax Code 11.13(b), from tax year 2025). It applies to school district taxes only, so cities, counties and special districts tax the full value unless they adopt a local option.
- 65 or older, or disabled: $60,000 more off school district value (11.13(c)), plus a school tax ceiling (11.26) that usually holds the school tax at the amount from the first year you qualify. The ceiling is why many 65+ bills are lower than the examples here.
- Starr County farm-to-market/flood control tax. The 0.1984 FM&FC part of the county rate carries a $3,000 homestead exemption (Tax Code 11.13(a)).
- Local options. Each unit can add its own homestead exemption (up to 20% of value, Tax Code 11.13(n)) or a 65+ and disability exemption (at least $3,000, 11.13(d)). Starr County units' local options were not sampled, so the examples and estimator leave them out; they can only lower the bill.
- Disabled veterans. A VA disability rating takes $5,000 (10% to 29%), $7,500 (30% to 49%), $10,000 (50% to 69%) or $12,000 (70% or more) off every unit's value (11.22); $12,000 at 65 or older with a 10% or higher rating. A 100% rating, or individual unemployability, makes the homestead fully exempt (11.131), and the exemption can pass to a surviving spouse who does not remarry. See the disabled veteran exemption guide.
- The 10% homestead cap (Tax Code 23.23). The appraised value of a homestead can rise at most 10% a year plus new improvements, starting the year after your first homestead year. A newly built home is often taxed on a partial value the first year and its full value the next, before the cap starts.
There is no fee to apply for a homestead exemption. File with your appraisal district by April 30 for the year; the homestead exemption guide has the forms and county links.
Protest deadline
Who sends the bill, and when it is due
The Starr County Tax Assessor-Collector collects for Starr County: (956) 716-4800, co.starr.tx.us.
The Comptroller's county directory (checked Oct 16, 2026) does not list Starr County Memorial Hospital District, Starr County Drainage District, South Texas College District among the units the county tax office collects for, so those taxes may come on a separate bill. Your statement shows who collects each tax; if one is missing, call that unit.
When it is due. Bills for 2026 go out in October and November 2026. Taxes are due by Jan. 31 and are delinquent if not paid before Feb. 1 (Tax Code 31.02). Jan. 31, 2027 is a Sunday, so a payment made on Monday, Feb. 1, 2027 is on time (Tax Code 1.06); penalty and interest start after that. Confirm the date on your statement with your tax office. If you are 65 or older, disabled, or a disabled veteran with a homestead, you can ask about paying in four installments (Tax Code 31.031) before the first one is due.
Questions
What is the Starr County property tax rate?
The countywide units add up to 1.1225 per $100 in 2025. With city and school taxes, most homes in the Starr County cities on this site pay 2.8371 (Roma) to 2.8804 (Rio Grande City).
When are Starr County property taxes due?
2026 bills go out in October and November 2026 and are due by Jan. 31. Jan. 31, 2027 is a Sunday, so a payment on Monday, Feb. 1, 2027 is on time.
Where do I pay Starr County property taxes?
The Starr County Tax Assessor-Collector, (956) 716-4800, collects for Starr County, its three school districts (Rio Grande City Grulla, San Isidro and Roma ISDs) and the City of Roma. Starr County Memorial Hospital District, Starr County Drainage District, South Texas College District and the City of Rio Grande City are not on its list in the Comptroller's county directory, so those taxes may come on a separate bill; your statement shows who collects each tax.
What is the Starr County homestead exemption?
The state homestead exemption takes $140,000 off school district value and $3,000 off Starr County's farm-to-market/flood control tax. Apply with the Starr Central Appraisal District; there is no fee.
Is there an over-65 exemption in Starr County?
Yes. At 65 or older (or disabled), school districts take $60,000 more off and the school tax is capped by a ceiling. Some units add their own 65+ exemption; check with each unit.
How do I protest my Starr County appraisal?
File with the Starr Central Appraisal District by May 15 or 30 days after your notice is mailed, whichever is later (May 17, 2027 next spring). Online: eprotest.starrcad.org.
Next steps
- Protesting your value? Ask Amy for recent comparable home sales before your hearing: book a call or call (956) 238-3688. Single-family homes only; not farms, ranches, duplexes, multifamily or commercial property.
- Living in Starr County: the Starr County guide.
- Compare with the rest of the Valley: all 20 cities.
- Exemptions and protests: Homestead exemption guide, Property tax protest guide, Disabled veteran exemptions.
- Mortgage and affordability math: calculators.
Sources and method
How these numbers were built. Each 2025 rate is the unit's adopted rate from the Texas Comptroller's 2025 rate files and the appraisal district's adopted-rate sheet, cross-checked against 2025 appraisal roll records, and every rate was checked again on Oct 16, 2026. Where the Comptroller's file differs from the unit's own adopted rate (McAllen's city rate, the Willacy County rows and a Cameron County road and bridge line that is not on the roll), the unit's own figure is used. A 2026 rate is shown only where an adopted 2026 rate was confirmed: Cameron Appraisal District's 2026 adopted-rate sheet and the City of McAllen's rate history. Which units apply inside each city comes from 2025 roll records sampled Oct 14, 2026 (250 Hidalgo and 191 Cameron homes, and 2 Starr and 2 Willacy records). School district shares come from 2020 Census housing counts. The examples and the estimator apply state-required exemptions only. Data file: tax-rates-2025.json.