Commissioner Dianne Edmondson
I have really enjoyed presenting Road updates here at the Ranch, and from the number of residents who attend in person or via live streaming, I think you all enjoy getting the information. We will be presenting Road updates again sometime in the fall.
And I will have another interesting presentation for the Ranch on Monday, July 21 at 5:30 p.m.: Upcoming Economic Development projects in our area, including new shopping venues, as well as new companies coming into Precinct 4. Full details will be sent via the HOA emails, so please mark your calendar now for that date!
But we have another presentation coming up even sooner regarding our property taxes. This presentation will be in the ballroom on Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m.
We are in transitional times now regarding property taxes, with a new Tax Assessor (Dawn Waye) taking office and a semi-new Denton Central Appraisal Board Chief Appraiser (Don Spencer) working together for the first time to appraise property values and then set the appropriate taxes on these properties throughout the county. Last session, our state legislature passed an enormous exemption for seniors and disabled property owners, adding to the first-ever Denton County Senior Property Tax cap and homestead exemption, which I had championed in 2020. Though the County’s portion of your property tax is only about 10% of the total, we thought it was important to lead the way in lowering taxes for both seniors and homeowners. The legislature is looking at additional property tax relief this session as well.
I have received many concerns from constituents about appraisal and tax issues. To address these questions, I have arranged for the Tax Assessor Collector and the Denton Central Appraisal District (DCAD) Chief Appraiser to come here to Robson Ranch for a public presentation on taxes and appraisals. This event will be open to Robson Ranch residents and also live streamed for those who want to watch at home. I am also inviting the three public-elected DCAD board members who are on the board to represent us taxpayers.
Please plan to attend and get your questions answered, such as: How much can your senior taxes go up? Why has my appraisal skyrocketed since last year? Can I protest my tax, and how? What happens to these property taxes when I sell my house? Plus, any other questions/concerns that you want to discuss with the two people responsible for appraising your property and then assessing the correct tax on that property. It’s also a great time to meet those public-elected DCAD board members who are your representatives on the board.
While nobody really likes taxes, the more we can understand the process and how our taxes are assessed, the less frustration we may have. And I am always happy to discuss with you the very efficient way that Denton County spends your taxes—just ask!