PROPERTY VALUES TAKE BIG JUMP IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

  

For the first time ever, property values in Washington County have risen to over $3 billion.  Based on numbers released by the Appraisal District, property appraisals in Washington County are taking a big jump in value in 2015.

County wide, the amount of taxable property has risen by 8.3 percent, or $245 million dollars from 2014.  The figure for 2015 is just under 3.2 billion dollars of taxable property, which includes new improvements, new construction and new personal property of 69.6 million.  Washington County Chief Tax Appraiser Willy Dilworth explains why property owners can expect to see such an increase in their property values.

Dilworth says 22,041 property value notices are being mailed this week because this is a “revaluation” year, so every property owner in the county is receiving a notice.  Property valuations in the Brenham Independent School District show an 8.9 percent increase over last year, which includes over $60 million in new construction, improvements and new personal property.  The total taxable property in BISD is now over $2.6 billion, up from 2.4 billion in 2014.

Dilworth was asked what type of property has driven the big jump in property values.

Taxable property in the Blinn College taxing district has jumped up 8.2 percent in value, rising by just under $245 million to over $3.2 billion.  For Burton ISD, taxable property valuations increased 7.2 percent, or just under $31 million, for a total of over $460 million.

Property owners in downtown Brenham may be shocked when they opened their tax appraisal letters.  Some of the older property has doubled in value since last year.

Dilworth explains.

Dilworth asks everyone to please be patient when calling the Tax Appraisal Office to discuss their property valuations.  He says those with homesteads can file their appeals online.  But he encourages everyone to call and speak with his office to see if things can be worked out before filing an appeal.