November 2021

Applicants Sought for Appraisal Review Board Service

The Caldwell County Appraisal District (CCAD) is accepting applications from residents interested in service on the district’s appraisal review board (ARB).

The review board, which hears property owner protests about appraised value, exemption denials, and other appraisal district related matters, is comprised of 5 citizens. Members sit on a panel to conduct protest hearings, most of which are during the summer months.

ARB members are appointed by the Administrative Judge and serve two-year terms. Service on the review board doesn’t constitute a full-time job but, while conducting hearings, members are paid up to $150 per day for each full day of actual service.

Review board service is generally a full-time commitment during the summer months and requires members to be available for service all day every weekday, including one evening, from late June through July. ARB members are not always scheduled every day, but must be available to serve if needed.

The chief appraiser noted that the most important qualification for any ARB member is an attitude of fairness and willingness to devote sufficient time to the responsibilities. In addition, Texas law contains specific provisions on eligibility.

Candidates for the ARB must be current residents of the Caldwell County Appraisal District, and must have resided in the district for at least two years. Persons who fall into any of these categories, however, are ineligible:

–Individuals who are currently employed by the State Comptroller of Public Accounts; or who are a member of the governing body, an officer, or a full or parttime employee of a county, city, school district, community college district, MUD, or any other entity supported by local property taxes. Former governing body members, or officers of a taxing unit served by CCAD are ineligible for four full years from the date they ceased to serve in that capacity.

–Persons who own an interest in property on which delinquent taxes are due, regardless of where in Texas that property may be located, unless the tax is deferred or being paid under an installment agreement.

–Anyone who personally, or whose spouse personally, has a contract with a local government or an appraisal district. The same restriction applies if the person, or his or her spouse, owns a 10% or greater interest in a business which contracts with a local government or taxing unit.

–Persons who at any time have appeared before the ARB for compensation as a tax consultant, accountant, appraiser, or representative of a property owner.

–Anyone who has served on the appraisal review board for all or part of three previous two-year terms, and any individual who has ever been employed by CCAD or has ever served as a member of the district’s board of directors.

The chief appraiser also noted that applicants aren’t considered if they are presently under indictment or have previously been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.

Application forms are available on our website at www.caldwellcad.org or come into the office at 211 Bufkin Ln, Lockhart. We will be accepting applications until position is filled. Applicants selected by the board of directors as finalists will be scheduled for interviews.