SAN ANGELO, TX -- San Angelo City Council members on Tuesday are poised to nominate the same five appraisal board members who were partially responsible for skyrocketing property appraisals in Tom Green County this year.
According to the agenda for Tuesday’s council meeting, “Appraisal district board members serve 2-year terms. The current terms of the five board members expire on December 31, 2017. The Council may nominate one candidate for each of the five positions. Per Mr. Benson, TGC Appraisal District Chief Appraiser, all five of the current Directors have expressed their willingness to serve another term if elected. Current members of the Board of Directors are: John Begnaud, John Conn, Russell DeVore, Louis Gomez, and Bob Reeves.”
Appraisal districts in Texas are required to assess property values within five percent of the Texas Comptroller's estimated property value each biennium. Property taxes in Texas are driven by state mandated public school funding. The Texas legislature adopts a budget every two years and mandates how most funds for schools, cities and counties are allocated.
The city has 26.17 percent of the votes for appraisal board members. Since Tom Green County has already cast their 22.35 percent of the votes for the same board members and the San Angelo Independent School District in September approved a resolution supporting the same board members, they will have 89.11 percent of the allocated votes and will serve for two more years starting January 1.
The San Angelo ISD has the most votes 40.59 percent because it levys the most property tax. The City, the County and the San Angelo ISD combined have 89.11 percent of the votes for appraisal board members. The remaining 10.89 percent of votes come from the school districts in Christoval, Miles, Grape Creek, Veribest, Water Valley, and Wall.
In other business, the city council is set to award the bid to build a new fire station to Mid-Tex out of Midland in the amount of $3,214,200. The project is budgeted for FY18 and is constructing a new Station #4 replacing the current fire station located in the 700 block of E. Ave. L.
The San Angelo City Council meets at 8:30 Tuesday morning in council chambers at the McNease convention center.
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Comments
Ahhhhh! All appraisal boards have been given Carte Blanc to raise the valuations up to the market value. Taxes go up when the different taxing agencies don't lower the percentage per $1,000. Therefore, taxes go up! First, valuating properties using an accounting methodology for inventory valuations is ripe with fudging numbers. Every property is different from adjoining and appraisers never go inside to fully review each property. Further, many property owners do not have the time or expertise to fully protest valuations, as time and limitations have been put into place by the "conservatives" in Austin!
Second, appraisers come from a broad segment of the industry. Some are realtors, or property owners and/or rural owners who have achieved certification from some agency or school. There is no standardization across the board sanctioned by any industry, save real estate.
My investigations have different national, state and local agencies all over the spectrum on valuations.
There should be a static valuation to properties with standards to adhere to governed by a statewide committee.
Further, if a piece of property is not on the market, there should be no increase in its value until is is on the market!
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PermalinkHow about the city council starts awarding all these new construction projects to some of our local builders..... the ones who's tax dollars pay city councils salaries. You know try to keep the money local and help the citizens of San Angelo out just a little bit.
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PermalinkI once was proud of my government back when it spoke the truth, worked for the good of the people, using the laws of the land that my father, grandfather and ancestors fought for. They have tossed the Bill of Rights aside and use an ideology called agenda 21/sustainable development, developed by the United Nations. Same ideology being used throughout the states. imposing and dictating regulations passed down by unelected regional boards and commissions. I feel like my country is under attack and local government is part of it. Bankrupting one city at a time.
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PermalinkAgree with most. Good example is the addition of a $3.99 fee to pay water bill on-line using a credit card. Can't find any evidence that water customers were told of this charge. Guess the water department doesn't want customers to pay on-line. There is a similar fee for using debit cards.
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