Missouri City homeowners will pay about $43 more per year in property taxes starting in October. City Council voted 7-0 on Aug. 17 to set a maximum rate of $0.578363 per $100 of taxable value.

The rate ends a three-year hold at $0.570825, according to Community Impact. The increase equals $0.007538 per $100.

For the owner of an average homestead valued at $296,421, the annual city tax bill rises from $1,670.94 to $1,714.39, an increase of $43.45, according to the city's public hearing notice. That works out to about $3.62 more per month.

Chief Financial Officer Rhonda Smith cited a slightly higher figure at the Aug. 17 meeting, saying a home with an average taxable value of $334,958 "would see an annual increase of $45, or $3.75 per month." The higher figure appears to reflect a different valuation baseline.

The approved rate sits above the city's no-new-revenue rate of $0.559173, the level that would have generated the same revenue as last year. It falls below the voter-approval rate of $0.619392, meaning no election is required.

The total tax levy across all Missouri City properties will climb $3.33 million, from $63.7 million to roughly $67 million, a 5.23% increase driven by both the higher rate and rising property values. Average homestead taxable values rose 1.26% year over year, from $292,723 to $296,421.

Mayor Robin J. Elackatt, Mayor Pro Tem Lynn Clouser, and council members Sonya Brown-Marshall, Monica Riley, Sharita L. Thompson, Joanna Ouderkirk and Floyd Emery all voted in favor.

No member was absent.

The vote sets a ceiling. Council must still formally adopt the final budget and tax rate in September before the fiscal year begins in October. Residents can weigh in at a public hearing scheduled for Monday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 1522 Texas Parkway. The city's main number is (281) 403-8500.