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Marvin Hahn, chief appraiser for the Bell County Tax Appraisal District since 2003, said new homes were responsible for about half of the increase, and the other half was due to a rise in existing property values. He said the increase reflects the value of area real estate.
“Presently, we’re in a good position. Properties in the county continue to sell,” Hahn said. “The market really hasn’t shown signs of weakness, although it’s not as strong as in years past.”
Hahn said even though average appraisals are up, it doesn’t necessarily translate into higher taxes.
He recommends that anyone who is questioning a home appraisal should call first before submitting a protest. Sometimes, the situation can be worked out without having to file a formal protest.
“These things are sent out for a reason. We welcome the opportunity to sit down and talk,” Hahn said. “These are just notices of appraised value.”
Tax rates will be set in August or September, and the bills will begin to show up in Bell County mailboxes in October.
Hahn said appraisers don’t physically look at every house in the county, rather they use a “mass appraisal,” method based on the sales prices of typical homes.
“We try to drive through every neighborhood at least once a year,” Hahn said.
Terri Covington, Temple-Belton Board of Realtors president, said that after several years of increasing property values, things have flattened out recently. She said it was possible older homes that had not sold in years were responsible for part of the increase.
“I think there are a number of properties playing catch up. Older homes that haven’t sold in a long while were probably undervalued before,” Ms. Covington said.
This is the first year that the appraisal district mailed values to homeowners before commercial, farm and rural property owners. Because of a new state law, “individual homeowners get a little head start.” Hahn said.
Hahn said he thinks this is a good idea because dealing with commercial property owners is on a different level, sometimes involving attorneys.
Also new for this year, school districts that are in more than one county - such as Florence, Gatesville and Rosebud-Lott - will have their property values reported to the county in which they are located.
“The Legislature has cut every appraisal district at the county line,” Hahn said.
For example, the values of residential properties in the Lampasas school district that are in Bell County will now be on the books in Bell County rather than Lampasas County.