Staff Report
SAN MARCOS — The Hays Central Appraisal District (CAD) scheduled the mailing of the 2026 Appraisal Notices to most property owners for April 1. All information included with the notice should be reviewed carefully. Property owners have the right to protest their property appraisals to the Hays County Appraisal Review Board by the filing deadline of May 15 or 30 days from the date a notice is mailed. To file a protest, the district recommends the convenience of the online filing portal available at www.hayscad.com. A protest can also be mailed to: Hays Central Appraisal District, 21001 N I35, Kyle, TX 78640 or dropped off in-person at the same address.
As Hays County continues to grow, so does the overall market value of Hays County’s appraisal roll. The overall market value for 2026 increased to $76.75 billion, up 9.69% over 2025’s certified value of $69.97 billion. New improvements as of Jan. 1 contributed $1.27 billion in market value this year. These new improvements include 3,294 new residential and 84 commercial structures, along with 373 enhancements to existing structures. This aligns with the growth in population to more than 300,000.
Commercial and industrial real property market value increased 24% in 2026, with a preliminary value of $7.47 billion, up from $6.02 billion in 2025. The 2026 preliminary value of residential multi-family properties increased 17%, from $4.05 billion in 2025 to $4.76 billion.
Most residential market areas stayed relatively flat for 2026 with slightly higher increases in more rural areas.
Local taxing units rely on property tax revenues to fund essential services, including schools, emergency services, police/fire protection, libraries and more. Information regarding the tax rate setting process for each taxing unit will be accessible starting on Aug. 7 at hays.countytaxrates.com. For more details on appraisals, appeals and exemptions, visit the Hays CAD website at www.hayscad.com.
