Among other proposals, the House Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform will recommend changes that make the Appraisal Review Board more independent from the appraisal district. During the meetings held across the state this summer, the Committee recognized the biggest complaint to be the lack of independence of the Appraisal Review Board. Quite simply, many taxpayers testified the Appraisal Review Board hearing is a kangaroo court that does not give proper consideration to protests. One proposed change will be to remove the hearings from the same building as the appraisal district and make the Appraisal Review Board a distinct governmental entity whose administration is totally separate from the appraisal district. Legislators would like to create a positive impression of the Appraisal Review Board because they believe property owners will file fewer appeals if those owners feel like the board gave fair consideration to the protest, regardless of the actual outcome. Fewer appeals would make appraisal districts very happy as well.
Josh Estes
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