Tarrant County judge’s meddling at appraisal district could backfire with tax hikes | Opinion

Government in Texas is famously diffuse, with power divided among many local and state entities, most answering directly to voters.

It’s not efficient, and that’s by design. It reflects conservative sensibility about government, so it’s ironic that Tarrant County’s most prominent conservative elected official, County Judge Tim O’Hare, is butting up against a system designed to make it difficult to exercise authority.

O’Hare was caught meddling recently in the business of the Tarrant Appraisal District. That’s the (ostensibly) independent agency established to evaluate property values for local governments to levy taxes.

For the first time, three members of the board overseeing the appraisal district are elected, a response to widespread anger over booming property values that are walloping homeowners with ever-increasing tax bills. To no one’s surprise, all three positions in Tarrant County went to candidates backed by O’Hare, a Southlake Republican.

But apparently indirect political sway wasn’t enough for the county judge. Records obtained by Star-Telegram reporter Cody Copeland under the state’s public records law showed O’Hare scripting the agenda for a recent board meeting at which significant changes to the appraisal process were made, including a switch to a two-year cycle for valuations.

It was an inappropriate exercise all the way around. O’Hare shouldn’t have done it. Board member Matt Bryant, who sent the ideas to fellow elected member Callie Rigney, should have rejected the idea. And board chairman Vince Puente should have exercised more control over setting the agenda.

The board and the entire appraisal district need to behave with more professionalism and transparency. The whole point of electing trustees is to ensure independent actors who are accountable to voters, not just elected officials of the taxing entities relying on TAD’s work. The low-level conspiracy executed by O’Hare and his proteges turns the whole thing on its head.

The changes themselves, including a “freeze” on appraisals for 2025 included at O’Hare’s behest, are debatable. But there are consequences for local governments. School districts in particular are concerned that they’ll have to raise tax rates to ensure they are in compliance with the rules for bonds they’ve issued.

School property taxes stick in everyone’s craws, but artificially limiting them by toying with appraisals is just as wrong as local governments lavishly increasing budgets while hiding behind the canard that they haven’t raised tax rates. If the goal is to reduce taxes and services, have the debate in an up-front manner and make elected officials answer to voters.

The political reality is that O’Hare is at the apex of power among the Republicans who dominate Tarrant County government. It’s not surprising to see him trying to bend more than just the county to his vision.

The appraisal district interference follows O’Hare’s push to end a long-time contract with a group that provides services for young criminal offenders because its national website listed some concepts, such as “diversity, equity and inclusion,” that O’Hare disdains. We’re still waiting for proof, if there is any, that the vital services provided to Tarrant youths were tainted or for some sense of what entity will fill rehabilitation needs for juveniles.

As for the appraisal district, if O’Hare wants to nudge his vessels on the board, he should have them investigate a mysterious decline in appraisals on new construction projects in the county. Preliminary tax rolls showed in the spring that values from such projects would rise, but the final certified figures showed no growth.

Anyone who’s driven around the county for an hour or so knows that doesn’t pass the smell test. Tarrant County is booming with new business. If there was an error in commercial appraisals, it will cost local governments, helping fuel the very tax-rate increases that so many want to avoid at every level.

Everyone should want accurate, complete appraisals. If there’s been an error or a problem in the process, TAD board members should be pushing for answers.

It’s a perfect example of why independence and divided responsibilities are a good idea in the first place.

Do you have an opinion on this topic? Tell us!

We love to hear from Texans with opinions on the news — and to publish those views in the Opinion section.

• Letters should be no more than 150 words.

• Writers should submit letters only once every 30 days.

• Include your name, address (including city of residence), phone number and email address, so we can contact you if we have questions.

You can submit a letter to the editor two ways:

• Email letters@star-telegram.com (preferred).

• Fill out this online form.

Please note: Letters will be edited for style and clarity. Publication is not guaranteed. The best letters are focused on one topic.