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FAQsforApplicationforaPlaceonBallotforPubliclyElectedMemberofCountyAppraisalDistrict

Listofcountieswithover75,000

SenateBill2,passedinthesecondspecialsessionin2023,providesthatappraisaldistrictsinTexascountieswithapopulationof75,000ormoreshall elect3memberstothecountyappraisaldistrict.Forexample,publicmembersfortheDallasCentralAppraisalDistrictandFortBendCentralAppraisal District.

TheinitialelectionforthesethreeboardofdirectorpositionswillbeonMay4,2024.(Thenextelectionsforthesepositionswillbeingeneralelectionin 2026.)

Applications shall be submitted to the County Judge (i.e. Lina Hidalgo in Harris County) starting Wednesday January 17, 2024, through February 16, 2024.Submitapplicationtocountyjudgeincountywhereappraisaldistrictislocated.

AppraisalDistrictBoardofDirectors–Place3.SubstitutetheCADnameforyourcountyifoutsideHarris County

Theapplicationwillberejectedifyoudonotincludethe“place”.

Isthereacostorfeetofileasacandidateforaplaceontheboardofdirectors?

Filingfee:Thefilingfeeis$200incountieswithpopulationof200,000orlessor$400forcountieswithover200,000.Inlieuofthefilingfee,youcan collect“hardcopy”signaturesonapetition(500inmostcounties).Electronicsignaturesarenotvalid.Thefilingfeeorpetitionmustbedeliveredwith theapplication.

Whataretherequirementstorunasacandidate?

Requirement:Mustbearesidentofthecountywheretheappraisaldistrictislocatedfor2ormoreyearsimmediatelyprecedingthedatethecandidate takesoffice.

ArethereanyexclusionsorreasonsImaynotbeabletoserveontheboardofdirectors?

Exclusions:

Employeesoftaxentitiesservedbytheappraisaldistrict,unlesstheyhaveanelectedpositionwiththesametaxentity

Individualswithasubstantialinterestinapartytoacontractwith1)theappraisaldistrictor2)taxingunitservedbythe appraisaldistrict.

Individualsrelatedwithintheseconddegreeofconsanguinity(blood)toanindividualwhoisengagedinthebusinessof appraisalpropertyforcompensationinproceedingunderthistitleintheappraisaldistrict.

Individualswhoownpropertywithtaxesdelinquentfor60+days.  Amemberofappraisaldistrictboardofdirectorsforallorpartof5terms(withnarrowexceptions)

Individualswhohaveengagedinthebusinessofappraisingpropertyforcompensationforuseinproceedingsunderthistitle 

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Individualsinthebusinessofrepresentingpropertyownersforcompensationinproceedingsunderthistitleintheappraisal districtwithinthelast3years

Individualswhohavebeenanemployeeoftheappraisaldistrictwithinthelast3years.

Whataretheresponsibilitiesofmembersoftheappraisaldistrictboardofdirectors?

Requirementsforpubliclyelectedappraisaldistrictboardofdirectors–themembersoftheappraisaldistrictboardofdirectorshavethreeprimary r

1.Twoofthreeofthepubliclyelectedappraisaldistrictboardofdirectorsmustapproveappraisalreviewboardmembersforthefollowingyear

2.Approvetheappraisaldistrictbudget.

3.Hirethechiefappraiser

Publiclyelectedmembersoftheappraisaldistrictboardofdirectorsaretheonlyoneswhocanapprovetheappraisalreviewboardforthefollowing year

Someappraisalreviewboardsareperceivedtobestronglybiasedbasedonsurveysofpropertyownersandtaxconsultants.Publiclyelectedboard memberswouldbeabletobalancethescalesfortheappraisalreviewboardifithasmemberswhoexhibitstrongbiasrepeatedly

Mostappraisaldistrictboardsmeet6to12timesannually.Meetingsaretypicallyafewhourstomostofadaybasedontheappraisaldistrict.

Thisisnotanopportunityforfinancialrichesbutisanopportunitytomakeameaningfulcontributiontoassuringpropertyownersreceiveimpartial treatmentattheappraisaldistrictappraisalreviewboard.

WherecanIfindadditionalinformation?

ElectionAdvisoryNo2023-24

Secretaryofstateform–2-49–application

Secretaryofstateform–2-51–petitioninlieuoffilingfee

Listofcountieswithover75,000

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AngelinaCounty HuntCounty

BastropCounty JeffersonCounty

BellCounty JohnsonCounty

BexarCounty KaufmanCounty

BowieCounty LibertyCounty

BrazoriaCounty LubbockCounty