Our Zoom speaker was Marya Crigler from the Travis County Appraisal District. She gave us an update on their procedure during COVID-19. They do business by appointment only, but you can use their on-line portal and chat feature on the website as well as contacting them by phone or email. TCAD did not reappraise residential properties in 2020, but you can still protest your appraisal value and have a hearing; hearings are happening later in the year by the Appraisal Review Board. TCAD has now handed the appraisal information over to taxing authorities, which are now in process of determining the tax rates and then assessing taxes based upon the new legislation. They must first calculate a “no new revenue” rate – which is based upon the prior year’s revenue. Travis County has a transparency website (which is now state mandated for every appraisal district). Marya showed the website during our meeting and explained what information it contains. Above a certain rate, the taxing authority needs voter approval at the November election, for such approval they need to notify property owners by August 17th. The website gives notice of public hearings on tax rates. Tax payers also have the opportunity to provide feedback to taxing authorities through website and the website gives contact information for each taxing authority. Marya also took questions from the listeners, discussing factors that go into the appraisal process, the trends in home sales and property values, and the hearing process.