Maverick County Ad Valorem Tax Appraisal Protest Deadline extended to June 3rd

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

The Maverick County Appraisal District announced that the deadline for Maverick County taxpayers to file a protest of their 2016 Maverick County ad valorem tax appraisals has been extended to Friday, June 3, 2016.

Taxpayers have an opportunity to meet with a Maverick County Appraisal District tax appraiser in an informal meeting to determine if any adjustments are warranted to their respective real property tax appraisal before filing for a formal protest.  To meet with a Maverick County Appraisal District tax appraiser in an informal meeting, please call the Maverick County Appraisal District at (830) 773-0255 or visit them at their offices located at 2243 North Veterans Boulevard, Eagle Pass, Texas 78852 during Monday through Friday between 8 A.M.-5 P.M.

Maverick Countians were shocked by the extremely high 2016 Maverick County Ad Valorem Tax Appraisals of their residential properties and business properties issued by the Maverick County Appraisal District.  Taxpayers have confirmed receiving ad Valorem tax appraisals averaging between 10% to 66% higher than the previous year.  Unless the taxpayer protests its ad Valorem tax appraisal for 2016, the taxpayer will have to pay higher ad valorem property taxes to the City of Eagle Pass, County of Maverick, Maverick County Hospital District, and the Eagle Pass Independent School District.

In Laredo and Webb County, Texas, the City of Laredo, Laredo United Independent School District, and other governmental entities are already taking steps to reduce their budgets for 2016-2017 to offset the loss of oil and gas revenues estimated to be 56% next year due to the fall of the oil and gas industry in Webb County and Texas.  Laredo governmental entities are slashing their budgets for next year and not filling unnecessary job vacancies and rehiring of retiring or resigning employees whose jobs are not indispensable.

Eagle Pass and Maverick County governmental entities have yet to be seen taking similar cost-cutting budget measures and appear content with living with the increased tax revenues they will receive as a result of the exorbitantly high ad Valorem tax appraisals issued by the Maverick County Appraisal District for 2016.  One local taxpayer noted that Eagle Pass and Maverick County governmental entities need to reduce and cut their budgets similarly to the Laredo and Webb County governmental entities.

Another taxpayer told the Eagle Pass Business Journal that the super high ad Valorem tax appraisals for 2016 issued by the Maverick County Appraisal District are unconscionable and unfair to taxpayers.  Many senior citizens, retired, disabled, unemployed, and underemployed taxpayers are angry and upset that they will no longer be able to afford their humble homes which they have worked all their lives for because of the high tax appraisals.  Taxpayers are demanding for the Eagle Pass and Maverick County governmental tax entities’ publicly elected officials to force the Maverick County Appraisal District to adjust and change their unconscionable ad Valorem tax appraisals and stop passing the blame among themselves, the State of Texas, local real estate brokers, the oil and gas collapse, and Mexicans buying homes at high prices.

Another taxpayer told the Eagle Pass Business Journal that the bottom line is that Eagle Pass and Maverick County governmental tax entities need to reduce, cut, and approve budgets within their taxpayers limited financial resources and income and the Maverick County Appraisal District needs to follow their community’s needs and resources instead of following Texas appraisal rates used in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, which all have low unemployment and thriving economies.  Maverick County has a current unemployment rate of 13%, one of the highest in Texas and the United States.

Contact the Maverick County Appraisal District at (830) 773-0255 and your publicly elected governmental leaders in the community to protest your displeasure and disagreement with the high ad Valorem tax appraisals for 2016.  The power of the vote is almighty.  Use it.