The next time you get your property appraised, it could be someone from the state giving you your bill.
, R-Fort Worth, filed a bill Friday to abolish the , which faces increased scrutiny over a series of missteps and controversies within the past several years.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a problem at the top, and this is one way to fix the problem at the top,鈥� Geren said shortly after arriving in Austin for the start of the legislative week.
Geren鈥檚 bill stipulates that any county with a population of more than 2.1 million, which hosts an airport with specific designations, will have its appraisal district abolished. Tarrant meets both stipulations. Geren filed the bill on the last day lawmakers can file for the current legislative session.
The would instead designate the state comptroller鈥檚 office to perform the duties of the appraisal district, including board of directors, chief appraiser and appraisal office. Currently, the state comptroller is responsible for auditing appraisal districts every two years.
鈥淭he comptroller would take over the operation,鈥� Geren said. 鈥淧ermanently,鈥� he added.
Rich DeOtte, Tarrant Appraisal District鈥檚 board secretary and presiding officer, said his primary concern is ensuring that TAD鈥檚 staff know their jobs will remain safe if Geren鈥檚 bill passes.
鈥淭he people that do the work, this isn't gonna threaten their jobs,鈥� DeOtte said. 鈥淚'm confident in that based on discussions that I've had with people, and so they can go about doing their jobs like they're supposed to do every day and do a good job.鈥�
TAD did not have any comment at this time.
Controversies surrounding the appraisal district have included ; an appraisal employee to the state without board approval; and several .
鈥淚f you read the news you know what I鈥檓 concerned about,鈥� Geren told the Fort Worth Report, citing the recent resignation and threatened recall of Board Chair Kathryn Wilemon along with a series of other issues.
鈥淭here鈥檚 concerns about violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭here have been concerns about how they treat their constituents, making them stand outside in 100 degree heat. Their lack of cooperation with the press. "
And he added: 鈥淭he Tarrant Appraisal District should never be in the newspaper, and they鈥檙e in the newspaper very regularly.鈥�
These issues and others have concerned DeOtte for some time.
鈥淚 think what this says, more than anything else, is that the elected representation around the county apparently is very concerned about these things as well,鈥� DeOtte said.
Most recently, the appraisal district鈥檚 board of directors came under fire for what some local leaders saw as an attempt to undercut taxpayers鈥� voting rights.
After the City of Keller initiated a recall of board chair Wilemon, she resigned the next day, teeing up a over whether the local taxing entities 鈥� or the appraisal board itself 鈥� should choose her replacement. Shortly thereafter, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court .
The appraisal board is moving forward with picking a replacement itself, a move that resulted in Keller Mayor Armin Mizani against the appraisal district. The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney Phil Sorrells sent a letter to the appraisal district asking for clarity on whether it would let taxing entities choose Wilemon鈥檚 replacement or if Tarrant County 鈥渕ust explore alternate legal remedies.鈥�
鈥淭here appears to be no shortage of people unhappy with the goings on at TAD. Unfortunately, it doesn鈥檛 seem like it has registered," Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare said. "With the recalls in Tarrant County and Keller, and the bill filed by Rep. Geren, it ought to now.鈥�
DeOtte is calling an emergency appraisal board meeting Friday to discuss the letters from Mizani and Sorrells, in addition to Geren鈥檚 bill, he said.
鈥淚 will say I'm opposed to the idea that anybody other than the taxing units decide who their board members are,鈥� he said.
Increasing property taxes have been the focus of across Texas. In Tarrant, multiple local entities are responsible for setting residents鈥� tax rate 鈥� but it all comes back to an from the local appraisal district. Texas has some of the highest property tax bills in the U.S., largely because of a state ban on levying income taxes.
If passed, Geren鈥檚 bill would take effect Sept. 1, 2023.
Editors note: This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
Editors note: This story was updated to include Tarrant Appraisal District's comments.
This first appeared on and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.