Politics
Shreveport Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Ordinance Sets Property Tax Millage at 7.8 Mills, Affecting Resident Payments from December
Shreveport property owners will see the first adjusted tax bills under the new millage rate when December 2026 statements arrive from the Caddo Parish Tax Assessor.
How we reported this
The Shreveport City Council passed the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Ordinance on July 7, 2026, fixing the general fund millage rate at 7.8 mills. This change applies to all taxable property within city limits and takes effect for the 2026 assessment year. The ordinance covers the period from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, and directs revenue to police, fire, streets and drainage accounts.
Why the timing matters for Shreveport households
The city sets its millage each summer after receiving the certified tax roll from the Caddo Parish Assessor. Bills based on that roll are mailed in November and due by December 31. Residents who pay through mortgage escrow will notice the adjustment when their lender recalculates the monthly payment in January 2027. Those who pay directly will receive the higher amount on the December statement.
City documents show the 7.8-mill rate produces an estimated $98.4 million for the general fund. The figure is listed in the adopted budget summary released by the finance department on July 8. Public safety receives $52 million of that total, streets and drainage $19 million, and parks $6 million. The remaining amount covers administrative costs and debt service.
Concrete effects on local costs and services
A home assessed at $150,000 with the standard homestead exemption will owe roughly $780 in city property taxes under the new rate, compared with $720 last year. Water and sewer rates stay unchanged in the ordinance, but permit fees for building additions rise 8 percent on August 1. Local advocates note that the extra revenue is projected to keep current staffing levels at the Shreveport Police Department through the fiscal year.
The legislation states that any surplus above the budgeted amount must be placed in a reserve account and cannot be spent without a separate council vote. The next scheduled review occurs during the mid-year budget amendment in February 2027, when actual collections from the December billing cycle will be known.