Appraisal district undergoing transition

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Floresville community beware of the the new and improved employees of our tax office i cannot believe the pay that has been given to these individuals and the raises are ... Read More 

Floresville community beware of the the new and improved employees of our tax office i cannot believe the pay that has been given to these individuals and the raises are unbelieveable we are not living in california where pay raises are 25% and more this is outrageous school employees get a 3% raise if they are lucky... why are we paying so much more when we do not even know the quality of work these individual do... we know track report and it was not good why are we changing position with different titles so we can give these out raises why not wait and see if they improve their work, and see if they can do the job correctly before giving our rewards this pay raise is just setting the board up for higher salaries in the future not better quality of work preformance this is not going to help the tax payers with their taxes, or the servic they get from this office....where are the brains of these so called board members that make these decisions are they blind and stupid do they not learn form previous mistakes are our taxes ever going to be done correctly the first time as to not waste your time nd theirs that would be a concept would it not...MM are you from this planet any person working with the public has to know that you will be dealing with different personalities and different situations if you can not handle that properly and efficently get out of the water Let some who can do it but do not expect a raise for a job not well done thanks but no thanks

 

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I did some quick math using IRS data for 2006 and came up with the following:

Texas total AGI from all sources was $562.8B. Total property tax levy for Texas in 2006 ... Read More 

I did some quick math using IRS data for 2006 and came up with the following:

Texas total AGI from all sources was $562.8B. Total property tax levy for Texas in 2006 was $35.6B. You would need to tax AGI about 6% to bring in the $35.6B. That would be about $2600 on the median AGI of about $44,000 Wilson County. According to the Texas Taxpayers and Research Assn numbers, in 2006 we would have saved about $288 million in Central Appraisal District operating expenses. This figure would not include cost of office space and buildings. Factor in those costs and you could probably knock down the tax rate to 5% or less.

 

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Mr Marshall,

Thank you for your response to my comments and the challenges faced by appraisers during these growth spurts. So I'll give you that one on them getting behind. ... Read More 

Mr Marshall,

Thank you for your response to my comments and the challenges faced by appraisers during these growth spurts. So I'll give you that one on them getting behind. However, I think the part you missed was an indictment on these specific people on the appraisal of my property (and others in my area). I don't live anywhere near the FM775/La Vernia area. This area is not a popular area and in fact attempts to develop nearby land has failed (to my relief). I'm in a remote location, 8 miles down backroads. The appraisal office still sees fit to equate the value of the property in this area to property along 775. Furthermore, it's generally understood that the price per acre of similar land goes up the smaller the parcel. 10 acres will sell for more per acre than 100. I understand they can make a mistake on the assessment because they are understaffed. But when I go in to contest it and they simply dismiss my argument, then I question their ability. You are right of course about the appeals process. Still it is very frustrating.

I've always been proud of the fact that Texas is one of the few states without an income tax. But the more I look at it, the more I'm convinced that tax on property value is too inefficient and costly. As you stated, the appraisal offices are understaffed. Why? Because the county can't afford to staff them at a level that would keep taxpayer irritation at a normal level. So all the problems you mentioned will continue or get worse as the population increases.

If the state taxed adjusted gross income that you already had to compute for your federal 1040, you would simply have to multiply the amount by the state tax rate and send it in. Of course in reality it would be taken in installments from your paycheck just as your fed taxes are. Now I would only support this if property taxes are completely eliminated via constitutional amendment.

I recognize there are challenges and that the notion of an income tax is unpopular in Texas. The tax rate chosen would have to yield basically the same revenue that the property tax does. Then the state as the collector of the tax would have to distribute the money back to the counties and school districts. One advantage would be a more fair spread of tax dollars to all districts instead of the rich/poor situation we have now.

 

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SK,
Where in the world do you get the idea that I don't mind a 50% rate increase? Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. But, whether you believe it or not, counties around the ... Read More 

SK,
Where in the world do you get the idea that I don't mind a 50% rate increase? Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. But, whether you believe it or not, counties around the state are getting behind on their appraisals simply because of growth and a woeful lack of manpower. Look at Wilson County and it's population growth. Large parcels of land have been split and developed. So, instead of 1 parcel, you now have 100, 200 or more lots to appraise just on a single development. Multiply that by, say 10 developments and you have 2000 more ( that's being conservative ) that you have to appraise, and it stretches appraisals thin. The LaVernia area is a prime example, and there are only so many people that can appraise. So it is entirely possible that the county has gotten behind. And as far as the value of the 10-20 acres along 775, you answered your own question. POPULARITY. That can, and will drive value, and that comes back to growth. I personally don't like it because it takes the rural feel out of things, but it won't stop until people stop coming.
Now, as far as the idea of using AGI and adopting a flat tax... I did a study on that a few years ago. The idea of it is ( in my opinion ) an interesting idea, and that is why I researched it. In fact, there is a small town in the Province of Nova Scotia that is using a "flat tax" which seems to be working fine in their case, but implementing one here in Texas would probably ( once again, in my humble opinion ) be an uphill battle. No, let me rephrase that. It would be a battle of trying to get uphill with boulders falling down on you. Unless enough people can get together to change things, it just isn't going to happen. But, if you decide to take this cause on and go down this route, please...PLEASE make sure you have detailed facts and figures in order to make yourself credible.
I know that people don't like taxes, but the county has to pay it's workers....fire, police, etc., and with the cost of living/inflation being what it is, it's not cheap and we have to keep up. We don't want to pay people (and it shouldn't) with 1980's or 1990's salaries. Wilson county used to be one of the lower taxed counties...but thanks to the influx of people from larger cities, that is no longer the case.
The appraisal appeal process is not perfect by any means, and counties are trying to find ways to make it easier on the taxpayers, but right now, it's the only process that ( in some cases ), works. The hard part with the appointment schedule is that you don't know from appointment to appointment how difficult each one will be, and that is where the bottleneck happens. You get Joe Consumer with an appointement to challenge his 4 acres, and you would expect it to take a short time, but it turns into a marathon session, whereas Amber Consumer with her 60 acres takes only 5 minutes, when you were expecting it to take an hour...and it bounces around like that. It happens a lot, and it really, really screws up the process completely, not due to any fault of the taxpayer, though. These people who challenge are getting their time to make their case, and in some cases, it takes longer. But, that is the just and only way to do things....to give that person the time that they deserve. After all, they are the one paying the tax, and they have right to be heard.
I would like to maybe talk to you sometime to hear your thoughts on the AGI issue, though. It's always good to get others' opinions.

 

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Mr Marshall,

I guess you don't mind when the appraisal district slaps you with a 50% increase because "we got behind in our appraisals" over several years and ... Read More 

Mr Marshall,

I guess you don't mind when the appraisal district slaps you with a 50% increase because "we got behind in our appraisals" over several years and are "trying to catch up." "You should be happy" they say because you were getting a break all these years. Easy for them to say, I was the one that had to squeeze the money out of a tight budget. Maybe you don't mind when you have to take off work to contest your appraisal, show up 30 minutes prior to your scheduled time but still wait for 2 hours to be called. Although they were woefully behind they still took a lunch break, leaving us tired, bored and hungry in the waiting room. Oh, and when the got back, they voted against reducing my appraisal. The board felt that the value of 10-20 acre lots along the popular FM 775 area was equivalent to my 120 acres 25 miles east where no land was selling to compare it to (ie no demand, not the same FMV).

As an appraiser, perhaps you can enlighten us as to why we should pay over $1 million per year in Wilson County just to figure out how much to tax ourselves. Wouldn't we be better off by eliminating property tax and put a small flat rate (set to bring in roughly the same revenue) on our Fed Income 1040 AGI. No fuss, no muss, no appraisal district, and $1 million extra for the county. And we could save the $800,000 they want to relocate.

 

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Do any of you have ANY idea what these people do? I mean, REALLY and truthfully? As an appraiser myself for almost 35 years in North Texas, I'm really surprised to have ... Read More 

Do any of you have ANY idea what these people do? I mean, REALLY and truthfully? As an appraiser myself for almost 35 years in North Texas, I'm really surprised to have seen people just snipe, snipe, snipe about this. YOU get into their shoes for a few days to see how hard that job really is and what you have to deal with on a daily basis. You think this is an easy job and it's all about sitting behind a desk all day doing easy things? I'd be willing to bet you can't cut it in their line of work. And $28k is NOTHING for the work these people do and the grief they have to put up with. So what if they are raising the pay to $43k....that's AVERAGE. And saying that these people are NOT hard working and honest like what SHOCKED has stated is an insult to all workers. It's an absolutely ridiculous statement on your part. And CONCERNED.... so what if he has changed jobs over those years...that does not mean he hasn't done a bad job...the opposite is true...he's done GOOD work and other counties are paying him for his GOOD work. You have basically accused him of doing something wrong, and there is NOTHING wrong. Quit thinking that these people don't deserve good pay for a job that is, quite frankly, a thankless job. Sure, taxpayers pay for their salaries, but do you want a bunch of amateurs doing their job?

 

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I think the deputy can do his job good and right, it is just the chief im not sure about or that Raye Anne Jendrusch is still there. That doesn't make sense to me!!!!

 

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In the business sector an individual normally gets a 3% increase each year, sometimes less. For additional duties/responsibilities (supervisor) in our office the individual ... Read More 

In the business sector an individual normally gets a 3% increase each year, sometimes less. For additional duties/responsibilities (supervisor) in our office the individual get 5% increase in pay. Yes, it does come with a new job title. How can anyone being of right mind justify a 18 - 43% increase in pay. Must be nice to have a budget were the taxpayers now end up paying for these salary increases. Its also very convenient for the board to set their meetings for 1:00 PM, when a majority of the people work and have a hard time taking off - unless you are rich and can afford to take off. Have the budget meeting at night like the school district does, so the public can provide input. Are is the board concern on what they may hear?

 

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Huge raise for what qualifications? And what is the deputy chief making? In previous articles it stated that the new chief will be making $70,000 a year. Is the board ... Read More 

Huge raise for what qualifications? And what is the deputy chief making? In previous articles it stated that the new chief will be making $70,000 a year. Is the board of directors CRAZY?? Look how many places Mr. Bridge has been in the past 3 years. They are paying him almost $20,000 more then the previous chief appraiser. And who knows what the deputy chief is making especially when they are wanting to pay Ms. Jendrusch almost a 50% increase. Where do you think all this money is going to come from? TAXPAYERS!!!! 43,000 for an Operations Manager?? What a joke. Get real people. Everyone should show up at the meeting and protest the outragous budget.

 

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I really can't believe what i am reading here. As if what has already happened wasn't bad enough, to slap the people of this area in the face with the news that they are ... Read More 

I really can't believe what i am reading here. As if what has already happened wasn't bad enough, to slap the people of this area in the face with the news that they are giving her a HUGE raise is just an insult. There are some hard working, honest citizens that work for us here that aren't making near that kind of money(police, fire, ems, etc). It is no wonder that people will continue to move out of here. I really thought that a new beginning for the office would be a good thing......as usual, shame on me for thinking things would change.