I was catching up on my local news and a KJAS article from October 15th caught my eye. Turns out, Chief Appraiser Lori Barnett is pushing to spend over half a million dollars to spruce up her offices. Meanwhile, an article from last month revealed even more about their financial situation. Talk about priorities!

$795,403 – 2024 Contingency Fund

$1,426,406 – JCAD funding by the 17 taxing entities from Jasper County, the cities within, school districts and the new emergency services districts.

$1,658,662 – Board approved budget
($60,649 — 2024 increase from 2023)

$680,228 – Board Approved payroll and benefits for 16 employees.

$82,380 + benefits – Chief Appraiser

Who hires the Chief Appraiser?

Who are the Board of Directors and how are they appointed?

Who are the members of the Appraisal District Review Board, and how are they appointed?

The very people who set your tax rates, spend your tax dollars, demand ever more of your hard-earned money, also determine who will sit on the Board of Directors of the Appraisal District. The Board of Directors in turn hires or fires the Chief Appraiser, and (in the case of counties with fewer than 120,000 residents) the Board of Directors selects who will sit on the Appraisal Review Board and hear your protest.