The Brownsville Navigation District is lowering the overall tax rate for property owners living within the district effective Oct. 1.

The measure comes after unanimous approval at a regular Board of Commissioners meeting Sept. 9. The 2020 property tax rate for the BND will be at $.029778 per $100 valuation. This is a 17 percent decrease from the previous year’s rate of $.035920. The 2020 rate contains a debt rate of $.004864 per $100 valuation. It also incorporates a maintenance and operations rate of $.024914 per $100 valuation.

“The Brownsville Navigation District commissioners and port staff are focused on advocating for the best interest of the district’s taxpayers,” said John Reed, BND chairman. “This decision reinforces our commitment to the residents of Brownsville, Olmito, Los Fresnos and Rancho Viejo by lowering the tax rate, something very important this year as we battle a global pandemic that’s impacted the nation’s economy.”