Appraisals Spark Texas Tax Party

Forget Boston and skip the tea that sparked a revolution.

Geezerplex property appraisals have provoked the Texas tax party.

"Our long-term goal is to abolish appraisal districts," said Camp County activist Pat Smith, who's taken the lead of a citizen group billed as Stop Taxing and Oppressing People (STOP.)

The argument's not about the right of local entities to levy taxes - it's about the methods used to determine values, some of which quadrupled in Camp County this year, Mr. Smith said.

While no group has organized in Titus County, increased appraisals have ignited individual protests pouring into the central appraisal district at a record clip. Confronted daily with more protesters than the two available appraisers could see in the allotted time for informal protests, taxpayers resorted to filing formal protests, effectively extending the protest period.

Adding to the complexity of the layered logic employed in determining property values (See story, page __), just days before the protest deadline, Mt. Pleasant Daily Tribune reporter Ashley Tompkins discovered a glitch in the works of the Titus County Appraisal District in determining residential values. The tax code limits home appraisals to increases not exceeding ten percent annually.

"One of my sources questioned a residential cap value that was greater than the ten percent allowed," Ms. Tompkins said. "When I asked Mrs. Perry about it she said that it was a computer programming error and that she had contacted the program provider earlier in the day about the problem."

Calls to the newspaper triggered her initial coverage, Ms. Tompkins said.

"We had multiple calls from business owners and residents curious about increases in reappraisal values when nothing of value had been added to their home or business," she said, adding that many didn't want to be quoted or go on record.

In Camp County, Mr. Smith put that bluntly.

"People are intimidated by the process," he said. "Less than 20 percent of property owners seek relief from an unjust valuation; therefore, the tax rolls are filled with inappropriate appraisals." Mr. Smith made his remarks to the Camp County Appraisal Board and chief appraiser.

One leg of the organized protest in Camp County took root when Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards owner Jeff Sneed got his appraisal notice.

Taking a mid-life turn from life in California's fast lane, four years ago Mr. Sneed sold his business and moved to Camp County to plant a vineyard and build a winery. He agrees that he's increased the value of his property. A metal barn has been converted to a dining and tasting room. He's worked on the small frame house that came with the land. He's transformed pastureland into a manicured vineyard.

Californian Jeff Sneed came to Texas and fell in love with rural Camp County. It seemed the perfect place to plant a vineyard until his property tax appraisal swelled to an amount that would make his local tax bill equal 60 percent of his mortgage payment.

In 2003, he said, his taxes doubled.

"Okay," he said. "Fair enough."

In 2004, his taxes doubled again. Less okay.

His property falls into three categories - agricultural land, business and residence. Appraisers didn't double the sum of those values for 2005 - the increase was 155 percent.

"Words can't fully convey my frustration," Mr. Sneed said. "Given my current appraisal, my property taxes equal 60 percent of my mortgage payment."

Networking with friends and other business owners, Mr. Sneed's circle quickly intersected a group led by Mr. Smith. Joining forces, they descended on the next meeting of the appraisal district board. Television news crews from Tyler came too.

"The education aspect is the big thing," Mr. Smith said. "People don't protest because they don't have the information in hand. As for home owners, the first thing is to find how your home is classified and make sure that's right. Get the working appraisal sheet and make sure information entered there is right."

Scheduling a meeting with appraisal officials for July 20, the group is expecting to address a visiting representative from the Property Tax Division of the State Comptroller's office.

"I want people to see the big picture, the real impact," Mr. Smith said, citing one instance of business property appraised at a value at which the annual tax levy will be more than the property rents for. "We're talking about property tax levels that are going close businesses. In the case of homes out on the lake that are second homes for people who don't fall in the residence values protected by the 10 percent cap, there are properties appraised at two and three times last year's values. Those are the people who trade with and support a lot of the niche market we've taken years building along Main Street. We're at the point that besides taxing people out of business, we'll be driving the people who trade with them out of the county."