28,800 appraisal notices from the Coryell Central Appraisal District

More than 28,800 appraisal notices from the Coryell Central Appraisal District were mailed to property owners this week. City, county, the school district and other local taxing units use the appraisal values from the Coryell CAD to set an individual’s 2020 property taxes.

The ongoing effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic presented challenges to the appraisal district in determining market values this year because appraisers needed to consider the economic changes during the first quarter of the year as well as future economic uncertainties that could lie ahead Mitch Fast, chief appraiser, Coryell CAD, said.

“It was very challenging to determine the actual impact of the current economic climate on our local real estate markets,” he said. “Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic our appraisal models had indicated some of the largest market increases in the past 10 years for many areas of Coryell County; although, many leading economic indicators (unemployment rates, stock markets and oil prices) have taken significant downturns due to COVID-19 Pandemic.”

The district kept all of those factors in mind during the appraisal process to make accurate and conservative assessments.

“We don’t want to overvalue property,” Fast said. “These are very uncertain economic times.”

This year’s notices reflect a slight change from the previous few years in that, generally, rural land values had a slightly larger increase in their value than residential properties.

For Coryell County, the Estimated Freeze Adjusted Taxable Value increased by 3.25 percent from last year.  That amount may increase when CCAD releases certified values later this year. For the second year in a row, the Evant Independent School District showed the greatest percentage increase at 9.08 percent for Estimated Freeze Adjusted Taxable Value with the total net taxable value increasing from $63.6 million to $70.8 million.

Jonesboro ISD was close behind Evant with an estimated 8.70 increase.

Estimates for other county taxing entities included Gatesville ISD up 4.86 percent, the City of Gatesville increased by 2.08 percent and Oglesby ISD increased by 3.62 percent from 2019. 

“All values are trending upward,” Fast said.

The chief appraiser noted that the deadline to apply for exemptions is rapidly approaching and property owners should check to ensure they have the proper exemptions filed with the district. The deadline for agricultural and wildlife management valuations, as an example, is April 30.

As notices are received, property owners are urged to review them for accuracy.

Those who disagree with the appraised value of their property, the exemptions or other action for the appraisal district have the right to appeal to the Coryell CAD Appraisal Review Board.

The ARB is an independent panel of citizens responsible for hearing and settling property owner protests. The notice of appraised value includes instructions on how and when to file a protest, a protest form and the Comptroller’s Property Taxpayer Remedies. The deadline for filing a protest with the ARB is May 21 or 30 days after Coryell CAD mailed the notice of appraised value, whichever is later.

Appeals can be filed over the phone, on the Coryell CAD website or via email.

For information related to the new Coryell CAD E-Protest online appeal process,  visit the website at www.coryellcad.org and click on the “E-Protest” link to file a protest online. Property owners using this method will need the PIN # located on the appraisal notice to set up an E-Protest account. Once registered, the online protest can be filed.

A property owner also could email the protest to arb@coryellcad.org.  Every effort will be made to contact the property owner prior to a formal hearing to listen, evaluate and provide information concerning a protest. 

“We strongly encourage you to contact us if you don’t understand or disagree with your appraisal notice,” Fast said. “We understand that this is a difficult time and want to open the lines of communication with you, the property owner. This office is committed to processing your questions and concerns in a timely manner and will make every effort to provide honest, accurate and straightforward answers.”