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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1161A L A Resolution -ItNl REGARDING APPRAISAL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WHEREAS, the House Select Committee on Central Appraisal Districts has scheduled an open public hearing for July 8, 1986, and, WHEREAS,, the Fort Worth city Council -is concerned about the performance of the Tarrant County Appraisal Dis trict and the need for more effec- tive and efficient management of the Appraisal District, and, WHEREAS, the State Property Tax Board' s most recent study of property values in Tarrant County showed property to be at only 83% of market value, and, WHEREAS, according to recent reports, there is a wide disparity which exists between the relationship of residential appraised values to market value (14% below market value) and the relationship of commercial appraised values to market value (28% below market value) in Tarrant County, and, WHEREAS, the State Property Tax Board currently has no oversight responsi- bility for central appraisal districts, and, WHEREAS, the Texas Property Tax Code does not address the issue of funds -? collected by an appraisal district from the governing units for support of the district's annual operating budget but which remain unspent at the end of the budget year and Tarrant Appraisal Dis- trict concluded 1985 with 5.2 million dollars in surplus funds, and, WHEREAS, taxing units are required to support the operations of appraisal districts' budgets but have no authority to audit the financial management or appraisal practices of the districts, and, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS - (1) When any State Property Tax Board study shall reflect either (a) ap- praised values to be less than 90% of market value, (b) the average per parcel cost of operating an appraisal district varies by more than 10% of the State-wide average, or (c) there exists a significant disparity r? between the relationship of residential values to market values and the relationship of commercial values to market values the State Board shall have performed an audit of that district's appraisal methods, the results of which along with recommendations for improvements shall be submitted to the taxing units of the appraisal district; C47 71 01P IPORT irMORTW r fir. a 2) At the end of each year any surplus funds in excess of 1/6th of an appraisal districts operating budget be returned to the taxing units either by a cash refund or a reduction in the current year budget support allocation; (3) Upon request of the majority of the taxing units entitled to vote on the appointment of board members the taxing units may have performed a management audit of the appraisal district. Such audit may be performed either by an independent public accounting firm or by the internal audit staffs of a majority of the taxing units. ADOPTED THIS pl;(- ATTEST: ty Secretary 1986. Mayor - l` Amendment to recommendation No, 2 to read as follows: (2) Appraisal district budget should only include funds to carry out the essential appraisal functions. However, if surplus funds remain at the end of the fiscal year, the appraisal district should be limited in the amount of surplus which can be retained. At the end of each year any ,surplus -funds in excess of 1/6th'of an appraisal districts operating budget be returned to the taxing units either by a cash re- fund or a reduction in the current year budget support allocation, APPROVED BY CITY COUNC JUL 41 R isa U O - City Secretary Of IlLe t------rEi'q of Fort Wo xa$ t.