CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — With the passage of Proposition 4 last November, Texas voters overwhelmingly granted themselves an $18 billion property tax cut.
Although it took more than six months to accomplish and required a regular legislative session and two special sessions, Texas lawmakers took a historic budget surplus and used part of it to help the homeowner.
But Prop 4 also included something else: Elected appraisal officials for any county with a population of more than 75,000. So far in Nueces County, it seems like no one wants the job.
Nueces County Tax Assessor-Collector Kevin Kieschnick spoke with 3NEWS about some of the changes the law now allows for the Appraisal District’s Board of Directors.
“Effective July 1, there will be three new elected positions to the Nueces County District Appraisal Board,” Kieschnick said.
In Nueces County, there are nine spots on the appraisal board. They are responsible for hiring the Chief Appraiser (in this case, Ronnie Canales) and appointing the members of the appraisal review board.
“They don’t do anything with appraisals,” Kieschnick said. “It’s kind of like a city council position, it’s kind of like a school board position. They are there for the operational side of the district.”
County appraisal districts are currently appointed positions, but the new law now provides for three elected positions. That election is coming up in May and the deadline to file to run is Feb. 16.
Kieschnick said so far, no one has applied.
Lawmakers said the change would hold the people who oversee appraisals more accountable to the property owners their decisions affect.
But first, they need candidates.
There is a $400 filing fee and those who are interested in running can apply through the office of the County Judge at 901 Leopard Street, Room 303.
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