Montgomery County commissioners have given the green light to an $18 million budget for the Montgomery County Central Appraisal District after previously tabling the proposal. The budget, which passed with a 3-2 vote, includes funding for six new appraiser positions and upgraded technology, such as drones and software intended for more accurate property data gathering. According to the Houston Chronicle, the district's need to manage nearly 100,000 property tax appraisal protests in 2023 was a contributing factor to the budget's passage.
In a detailed presentation yesterday, Arthur Bredehoft, a member of the appraisal district’s board of directors, alongside Deputy Chief Appraiser Jake Martinez and Montgomery County Tax Assessor-Collector Tammy McRae, laid out the need for the increased funds. The budget's boost, which marks a significant 26% rise since FY 2023, will accommodate the county's inflating population, which has swelled to an estimated 711,354 as of July 1, 2023, representing a steady climb from 650,755 in 2021. Bredehoft emphasized the district's stagnant staffing levels, which have not seen an increase since 2019, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
The district's move towards a more technologically advanced appraisal system includes the high-cost implementation of Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) software, which is a four-year process racking up costs through 2028. This implementation alone is projected to cost $956,024 in FY 2025. Explaining the urgency of the updates, Bredehoft was quoted in Community Impact as saying, "As the county continues to grow, we have a need for additional resources and people to support our mission called appraisal.”
Two commissioners, James Noack and Matt Gray, expressed their disapproval, urging the district to find ways to better serve taxpayers amid the increases. Noack raised the issue of potentially reappraising properties less frequently, arguing that it could be a cost-saving approach. Meanwhile, board member Clint McClaren highlighted the desperate catch-up the district was facing due to years of inadequate resources, in light of population growth—a sentiment echoed by Bredehoft, as reported in Community Impact.
Commissioners advocating for the budget, such as Precinct 2's Charlie Riley, recognized the acute need for additional staff and resources arising from the county's significant residential growth. As for handling the risks associated with a heightened budget, Interim Chief Appraiser Sherry Hunter relayed a measured approach, asserting that they were trying to be good stewards of the taxpayers' money while managing to incorporate the necessary staff enhancements, said the Houston Chronicle.
