Deadline to Protest high Maverick County Appraisal District Property Valuations is May 31st
By: Ricardo E. Calderon
An Exclusive Eagle Pass Business Journal News Story/Copyright 2013
Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas residential single family property owners are shell shocked regarding the exorbitant and unconscionable proposed 2013 Maverick County Appraisal District’s 25.19% to 26.96% increase of residential property appraisal valuations from last year’s 2012 certified appraisal valuations. Many taxpayers have expressed disapproval and disappointment with the whopping residential property valuations proposed for 2013 by the Maverick County Appraisal District.
In a May 9, 2013 article in the Eagle Pass Business Journal announcing the proposed 2013 real property appraised valuations, Maverick County Appraisal District’s Chief Appraiser Victor Perry stated that state law mandated the local appraisal district to conduct a study of fair market values based on actual sales prices and an out of town appraisal valuation company was hired to conduct the study. Based on current real estate sales prices in Maverick County, the residential property appraisal valuations are being raised by 25.19% for City of Eagle Pass residential properties to 26.96% for Maverick County residential properties, causing a whirlwind of complaints and upset Maverick County taxpayers.
Chief Appraiser Victor Perry stated that any taxpayer that disagrees with the proposed 2013 residential property appraisal valuation should first stop by the Maverick County Appraisal District Office, located at 2243 North Veterans Blvd., in Eagle Pass to discuss and review their appraisal valuation to ensure that the information contained therein is accurate and correct. If an agreement is not reached at this meeting, then the taxpayer needs to file a formal Property Tax Protest and Appeal with the Maverick County Appraisal District Office by no later than May 31, 2013, or, 30 days after a notice of the appraisal valuation was mailed to the taxpayer, whichever is later. Perry suggests that any taxpayer who has a question or would like to schedule a meeting with the Maverick County Appraisal District may call them at (830) 773-0255 or stop by and visit them at 2243 North Veterans Blvd. office before May 31st.
Newly re-elected Eagle Pass City Councilman Luis E. Sifuentes, who is a Board Member of the Maverick County Appraisal District as the City of Eagle Pass representative, stated after his swearing-in on May 21st that the proposed 2013 appraised valuations are based on supply and demand of residential properties in the City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County with the market showing a strong demand for and a lack of supply of residential properties, causing current real estate sales prices to be significantly higher than in 2012 as reflected in the study conducted by the private out of town appraisal company.
Councilman Sifuentes recommended that all taxpayers check their property appraisal valuations for their accuracy as to the information and size of one’s property and then go visit the Maverick County Appraisal District Office for a review of their appraisal valuation, and, if one does not agree with the Maverick County Appraisal District’s valuation then the taxpayer should definitely file a Property Tax Protest and Appeal for a hearing with the Appraisal Review Board. The deadline to for a taxpayer to file a protest and appeal is May 31st or 30 days after their appraisal valuation is mailed to them. Sifuentes noted that he used to never check his appraisal valuations until one year he did and learned that the information on his appraisal valuation was incorrect and causing his appraisal valuation be lowered as a result thereof. Sifuentes checks his appraisal valuations every year now.
City Councilman Rudy Villalpando stated that many local taxpayers have approached him to complain regarding the exorbitant proposed residential property appraisal valuations for 2013 and he is recommending everyone speaking to him to file a Property Tax Protest and Appeal by the May 31st deadline. Villalpando stated that although current real estate sales prices are high in the community, it does not negate the fact that the community has a poverty rate over 30%, a high unemployment rate, a high underemployment rate, a high uninsured rate of over 30%, and the community remains among the poorest in the State of Texas and the United States. Villalpando added that he was going to look into what the City of Eagle Pass can do, if anything.
Every taxpayer is afforded the same rights to protest and appeal their residential property appraisal valuation by no later than May 31st. However, it remains to be seen just how many upset and concerned Maverick County residential property owners take advantage of their legal rights and will actually file a Property Tax Protest and Appeal by the May 31st deadline. Perry, Sifuentes, and Villalpando all recommend that any taxpayers who are unhappy and dissatisfied with their proposed 2013 residential property appraisal valuations need to take action and file their Property Tax Protest and Appeal on a timely basis by May 31st.
