WASHINGTON CO. APPRAISAL DISTRICT’S APPEAL OF ‘INVALID’ VALUES UNSUCCESSFUL
The Washington County Appraisal District lost its appeal to the state about Brenham ISD’s appraised values being considered too low.
the Texas Comptroller.
(courtesy Washington Co. Appraisal District)
Chief Appraiser Dyann White reported during Tuesday’s board of directors meeting that the appeal of the 2022 Property Value Study, conducted by the Texas Comptroller’s Office, was unsuccessful.
The study found that last year’s appraised values for Brenham ISD were 8.2 percent below the state values determined by the Comptroller. If the difference between the state value and the local value assessed by the appraisal district is greater than 5 percent, it is considered “invalid” for the year.
White explained that the subcategory of values that hurt the appraisal district the most in its appeal was farm and ranch with homes, the house and land classification used when there is additional ag land on the property. Those values came in at 16.9 percent below the state. She believes the appraisal district will be successful in the 2023 Property Value Study, as it has raised those category values in line with recent sales.
While there is no immediate action based on the appeal at this time, White said if appraisals are found invalid again for 2023, Brenham ISD could lose state funding. This is because Texas property tax law requires property tax appraisals to reflect true market value; if an appraisal district appraises below that, the state can fund the school using the Comptroller’s values instead of the locally appraised values.
Had the appraisal district won its appeal, Brenham ISD would have received another “grace” year where an invalid score would not affect its state funding.
In other business on Tuesday, the board approved a letter of engagement for Seidel Schroeder to perform the appraisal district’s 2022-23 audit. White also announced that 2023’s appraised values are ready to be certified for local taxing entities and will be released soon. She also gave notice of the appraisal district's office closure beginning on Friday and lasting until August 14th.