APPRAISALS: Notices of Appraised Value arrived in mailboxes across Hays County this week. Those notices are from the Hays Central Appraisal District (Hays CAD) https://hayscad.com/. This is a legislatively required agency that conducts property appraisals and determines the value of your property. That agency is not part of your Hays County government.
PROTESTS: Between now and May 18, property owners can examine the information provided by the Hays CAD. According to the agency’s website, you have the right to protest if you believe the appraised value does not accurately reflect the market.
Protests are handled by the Hays County Appraisal Review Board (ARB), comprised of residents of the county appointed by the local administrative judge under Subchapter D, Chapter 74, Government Code. Members can serve two-year terms up to a total of six years.
HAYS CAD BOARD: The Hays CAD is governed by a seven-member board of directors. Members are elected by the governing boards of the taxing entities that participate in the appraisal district. Each board member serves a two-year term beginning on January 1 of even-numbered years. The Hays County Tax Assessor-Collector, an elected position within the Hays County government, serves as a voting member of the Hays CAD Board.
HOW TO PROTEST: Information on how to protest your appraisal is on the Hays CAD website: https://hayscad.com/protest/.
TAX INVOICES: It’s important to know that the property taxes you pay are collected by Hays County Tax Collector-Assessor’s Office, which uses the tax rates of each taxing entity, also known as taxing units, to generate your property tax bill. These units include the county, cities, school districts, emergency services districts, MUDs, PIDs, PUDs, ACC, and others.
The governing body of each taxing unit sets its own rates. For example, Hays County Commissioners Court sets the tax rate for Hays County. City councils set the rates for municipalities and school boards set the rates for their districts, and so on.
Estimates from the Hays County Tax Collector-Assessor’s Office will be generated beginning in late August and updated throughout September as each taxing entity adopts its rates for the coming fiscal year.
TAXING UNITS: A full list of taxing entities in Hays County can be found here: https://hayscad.com/taxing-unit/.