FORMAL PROPERTY TAX PROTESTS IN WASHINGTON CO. UP ALMOST DOUBLE FROM LAST YEAR
The Washington County Appraisal District has received nearly double the number of formal property tax protests from last year.
At Tuesday’s Washington County Appraisal District board meeting, Chief Appraiser Dyann White said a total of 2,795 protests had been received, although the number could increase from protests coming through the mail. In 2021, there were 1,516 protests. White said as of Tuesday, 1,360 protests are pending a hearing.
The amount of value currently under protest, according to White, represents an estimated 8.5 percent of the total tax roll. She said the appraisal review board is required to approve records by July 20th, but can only do so if 5 percent or less of the roll is under protest.
White said when the appraisal review board is unable to approve records, she is required to release estimates of certified value by July 25th. She said all of the local taxing entities have received that data and can begin doing their rate calculations.
White said her office hopes to get to the 5 percent threshold to officially certify by the end of August or early September.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board reviewed the proposed 2023-24 reappraisal plan and set the date and time for a public hearing on the plan for August 23rd at 10 a.m. The board then signed an audit agreement letter allowing Seidel Schroeder to perform the appraisal district’s 2021-22 audit.
in my opinion this is nothing less than massive abuse of power by Washington County, an attempt to defraud through over stated property values! “Let’s just see what we can get away with” no matter the damage to our Washington County families.
The amount of $ increase this year is bananas. It’s also a tad blind to what’s happening to the overall US economy and the forthcoming decline in property values due to interest rate hikes.
Huh. It’s almost as though WashCo significantly raised the rates on property owners without explaining what they planned to do with the excess earnings…and are now surprised when people protest. What gives with that?!?
Everyone who owns property and pays the taxes, whether they are older than 65 or not, should protest every year, if the are not happy with their valuation.
The last 2 years the percentage of “value” increases has been 200% to 300% in some cases. It should be considered criminal.
The excuse is Washington County has been undervalued for soo long. Ridiculous. Washington County land has been overpriced for years, compared to neighboring Counties.
Generally, when you protest, you can get values lowered. If you don’t, they keep going up. The squeaky wheel gets the oil/grease, right?