The following is important information about the upcoming election in Travis County:

Appraisal Board Elections

Introduction: The next election in Travis County is May 4, 2024. On the ballot will be members running to be on the Appraisal Board.

Background:
Senate Bill 2 was passed during the last Legislative session, and on Nov. 7, 2023 it was put on the ballot as Prop. 4, an amendment to the Texas Constitution that, among other things, “require members of appraisal boards in counties of over 75,000 people to serve staggered four-year terms.”

What is an Appraisal Board?
County Appraisal Boards were created by the Texas Legislature in 1979 to create a more organized property tax system. The Board hires the Chief Appraiser, approves the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) budget, approves contracts, and sets general policies. The Board does not appraise property or review property values. Board members are not compensated. The Board meets quarterly. You can watch their meeting here: Board of Directors Meetings | Travis Central Appraisal District (traviscad.org), Other accounts state that the primary reason for change was to remove political pressure from the appraisal process. 

What does this new law mean?
The new law requires that Travis County have eight unpaid members with staggered four-year terms. Five members are appointed by local governments and school districts. The other three members must be elected.

Why the Change?
Rep. Paul Bettencourt, the Houston Republican who authored the bill*, said the reason for the bill was because lawmakers receive numerous questions about taxpayer input in county appraisal governance.
Whether the board is appointed, elected, or a combination of these, the board does not appraise property or review property values, though they do select the Chief Appraiser.

Opposition: This law politicizes these boards, cost of holding an election for this position, current board disruption (Travis County, and many other counties, are still deciding which current members will serve as an appointed official and which will be forced to run for an elected spot).

Closing thoughts: While the candidates for the three seats are not running as a member of a political party, the political affiliation of some of those on the ballot are well known. Zimmerman and Mackowiak are extremely conservative. Other candidates clearly state their political affiliation on their websites. Another big take away is that 60% of school funding in Texas is tied to property taxes. Politicizing these positions could have a negative impact on funding our schools, which are already underfunded.

You will vote on all three Places. Here are the candidates for each Place:

Place 1: Jett Hanna, Don Zimmerman
Place 2: Daniel Wang, Matt Mackowiak, Jonathan Patschke
Place 3: Dick Lavine, Bill May

There are other issues surrounding this law and these positions, but these highlights will help demystify the ballot a bit.

*Bettencourt’s company, Bettencourt Tax Advisors LLC, offers property valuation protest services.

You can look at this nonpartisan Voters Guide that is provided by the League of Women Voters Austin Area to learn more about the candidates.