Tough nominated to MCAD board to represent township
From Conroe Courier By Catherine Dominguez | Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2015 8:39 pm
THE WOODLANDS — With a concern on how the Montgomery Central Appraisal District is assessing properties in The Woodlands, The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Chairman Bruce Tough volunteered to be nominated for the MCAD Board of Directors in an effort to give the community a louder voice.
The board approved Tough’s nomination unanimously Thursday morning.
“I don’t feel the appraisal district treats The Woodlands properties appropriately,” Tough said. “We are constantly receiving mandatory increases in our property values as compared to the rest of the county, and I feel like we need representation. Someone from The Woodlands Township board needs to participate in this process.”
Board member Gordy Bunch said he and Monique Sharp, assistant general manager of finance & administration for the township, looked up the information and learned The Woodlands is roughly 20 percent of the population in housing units; and over the last five years, The Woodlands Township has been absorbing almost 50 percent of the county’s total assessment increases.
“It is not just a perception, it is the reality,” Bunch said. “Even though our Montgomery County side of the township is pretty much built out, we have managed to increase our county’s budget share in the last several years. We had been averaging about 37 percent of the countywide budget and now we are at 38.5 percent, where most of the growth in the county has come elsewhere.
“I do think we need much stronger township representation and voice in many areas, whether it is dealing with the appraisal district or other areas.”
For the 2014 tax year, the adjusted tax value for Montgomery County was $42,173,068,630. According to information from the township, $16,240,321,964, or 38.5 percent, was paid by the township.
Board member Mike Bass suggested asking former Montgomery County Tax Assessor JR Moore to represent the township. However, the rest of the board agrees the person should be a member of the township’s board.
Bass pointed out that if a board member’s term expires or the person is not re-elected or decides not to run for re-election to the board, that person would continue the term on the MCAD board, which would mean the township board could be in the same position as it is now without representation on the MCAS board.
Tough said that would not be a problem as long as the board made it clear to that person that its pressing issue is addressing the “disparity” of how The Woodlands is treated in appraisals.
Board member Ed Robb said he is concerned about a township board member having the time to serve on the MCAD board.
Tough said he is willing to take the responsibility.
According to Chapter 6.03 of the Property Tax Code, the board of directors for an appraisal district is elected by vote of the governing bodies of the county, cities and school districts. Those entities nominate a person, have a preliminary vote to have that person on the ballot and then have an actual election to elect the board members.
The results of the election are announced by Dec. 1.
Members of the board are responsible for establishing an office, appointing a chief appraiser, appointing an appraisal review board, appointing the taxpayer liaison officer, making general policy for the district, adopting a budget and developing a reappraisal plan for the district.
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