Friday's Internet Edition, August 29, 2008.
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Leader-Press correspondent - GATESVILLE – Coryell County property owners should receive their 2004 tax notices soon as more than 20,000 were dropped into the mailbox today.
Coryell County Chief Appraiser Brett McKibben said Monday property owners will notice a small increase in their tax bills as the county’s appraisal values have increase this year.
“There are still areas around the county that appear to have conservative valuations and beginning in 2005, a project will get underway to physically inspect each property within the county,” McKibben said.
State law requires appraisal districts to appraise property at 100 percent of it’s market value, McKibben said. The assessed values are an estimate of what an owner’s property might sell for. When values fall below market value, school districts are in jeopardy of losing state funding and other entities lose funding on value that is not taxed.
Property owners who feel their tax assessments are higher than their property would sell for are encouraged to contact the appraisal district at 705 East Main Street in Gatesville or the annex office located at 210 South 2nd Street. Gatesville area property owners may call the office at 865-6593 and in Copperas Cove the annex phone is 542-3079.
If after review an agreement is not reached, the land owner may request a hearing in writing before the county appraisal review board.
McKibben said, however, most disputes are settled during an informal conference with district staff and protests are few.