By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-878100.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Texas County Appraisal districts assess home values in a new way beginning Friday. It could reduce taxes for some home owners, as KERA's Bill Zeeble reports.
House Bill 1038 requires appraisers to consider values of nearby homes when coming up with an assessment. The law was prompted by homeowners complaining their property values were too high in this down economy. In some cases, nearby homes were in foreclosure, depressing property values. But those reduced values weren't always reflected in lower appraisals, and therefore, lower tax assessment.
Chery Jordan, with Dallas County's Central Appraisal District, says the law won't impact Dallas, because the county has long considered neighboring property values.
Jordan: As a matter of fact, a majority of those, what caused us to lower over 200,000 values this past year. No, we already do that.
Jordan says a few Dallas County neighborhoods saw higher property values, but most were flat or lower than the last assessment.