The Lone Star College System Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing on its proposed 2026 property tax rate followed by a regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. The sessions take place at Lone Star College-University Park, Commons Grand Hall, located at 20515 SH 249 in Houston, with remote access available via Zoom according to public notices released by the system.
Tax Rate and Budget Proposals
For tax year 2026, Lone Star College System published a proposed total property tax rate of $0.1058 per $100 of taxable property value. That figure sits slightly below the 2025 property tax rate of $0.1060 per $100 of taxable value. The proposed rate breaks down into $0.0839 for maintenance and operations and $0.0219 for debt service. While the total rate drops marginally, the maintenance and operations component increases from the 2025 level of $0.0785, representing an effective increase of 7.98% in maintenance and operations tax revenue under the system’s calculation.
The college system operates under an FY 2027 budget totaling $577.5 million. Local tax revenue is projected to supply approximately $263 million of that funding. Additional revenue streams include $162 million from student tuition and fees, $118 million in state funding, and $34.5 million from other sources.
Historic Enrollment Growth
The upcoming tax discussions coincide with a milestone period for student registration. Fall 2026 enrollment reached 100,023 students, surpassing the 100,000 threshold for the first time in the institution’s history. That total marks a substantial expansion from the 613 students who attended when the college system was established in 1972. Today, LSCS operates more than 20 locations across the Houston region and offers over 200 degree and certificate programs supporting university transfer and career and technical education.
Despite enrollment climbing to record levels, trustees kept the in-district tuition rate unchanged at $111 per credit hour for the 2026–27 academic year, matching the rate set for 2024–25. Property taxpayers within the service area may qualify for specific exemptions, including a homestead exemption equal to the greater of $5,000 or 8% of a home’s market value, alongside a $75,000 exemption for qualifying homeowners age 65 or older and individuals with disabilities.
Meeting Attendance and Participation
Members of the public can participate in the Oct. 1 sessions either in person or remotely. Individuals joining via Zoom must register in advance by providing their name and email address to access Meeting ID 827 6128 0653 with passcode 999845, according to LSCS announcements.
Public comments submitted online require a completed registration form submitted no later than 10:25 a.m. on the day of the meeting. Registered virtual participants will be announced and unmuted by the host during the public comment session, while in-person speakers will address the board from the podium at the University Park campus. The complete board agenda is posted online at LoneStar.edu/Board three business days prior to the meeting. Roycelyn Bastian, LSCS director of Media Relations and Communications, handles inquiries regarding the sessions at 832.813.6673.
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