FAQs • Cedar Park, TX • CivicEngage

How is the City's property tax rate determined?: In keeping with our core values of fiscal responsibility and innovation, we run a lean machine in Cedar Park! Each year, our City Council looks at the City's expenses, reviews the prior year's tax rate, examines ratified property values, sets a budget and determines the rate that will bring in the amount needed to cover those expenses. Keep in mind: the City portion accounts for only about 18% of your overall property tax bill. The rest goes to other taxing entities such as the school district, county, community college district and health district.

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Finance - Budget Fundamentals

1. What is “ad valorem?”: Ad valorem is Latin for "according to value," and is also a term used to describe property tax.

2. How is the City's property tax rate determined?: In keeping with our core values of fiscal responsibility and innovation, we run a lean machine in Cedar Park! Each year, our City Council looks at the City's expenses, reviews the prior year's tax rate, examines ratified property values, sets a budget and determines the rate that will bring in the amount needed to cover those expenses. Keep in mind: the City portion accounts for only about 18% of your overall property tax bill. The rest goes to other taxing entities such as the school district, county, community college district and health district.

3. How is property tax collected?: Based on the property value appraisal provided by the Central Appraisal District, the County Tax Assessor-Collector collects your property taxes for the City, County, school district, college district and other taxing entities, then sends those tax dollars to each of these entities. Less than 20% of your total tax bill goes to the City of Cedar Park.

4. How is tax revenue used by the City?: Quite simply, the revenue collected for the City of Cedar Park is used to provide services and infrastructure necessary for the City to function.

5. What is a Fiscal Year and when does it begin?: A Fiscal Year, commonly denoted "FY", is a 12-month period for taxing and/or accounting purposes. For the City of Cedar Park the Fiscal Year begins October 1 and ends September 30 of each year.

6. How is my property value determined?: The Central Appraisal District is responsible for determining the value of all real and business personal property within its jurisdiction. If your property is located in the Travis County, the Travis Central Appraisal District determines your property value; if your property is located within the Williamson County, the Williamson Central Appraisal District appraises your property value. Despite the name of your appraisal district, it is an entity independent of the County or any other taxing jurisdiction, and your respective appraisal district appraises property according to the Texas Property Tax Code and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices (USPAP). The Central Appraisal District then sends its appraisal of your property valued to your County Tax Assessor-Collector.