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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />During our tenure with the private appraisal firm of Hugh Landrum and <br />Associates, I always received estimates that were fairly accurate, <br />normally within 1%, not the 40% difference that the Appraisal District <br />provided. In addition, I always had the official values well in <br />advance of the budget cycle so I knew what funds I could count on. I <br />received the Appraisal District estimate in early August, which was <br />after the budget was ready to go to Council. <br /> <br />2. I have a lack of confidence in their ability to provide accurate <br />information. During the last year, I personally had to deal with a <br />company that was very upset with the City. Based on the information <br />provided by the Appraisal District, we sent bills for the same property <br />to three different companies (the property changed hands twice during <br />the year). Their mistakes caused us to expect revenues that were not <br />real and made us look like an unprofessional organization. <br /> <br />3. Another area I have a major problem with is their inability to address <br />our immediate needs. During the last three weeks, I have been trying to <br />tie down our revenue estimates for the new fiscal year. I have not <br />received any information from the Appraisal District on the In-Lieu <br />Values (we were supposed to get them in May of each year). Because I <br />know we will have a big increase caused by the Quantum expansion, I <br />asked Ana to contact the Appraisal District to at least find out what <br />that number will be. After trying to call them for two weeks, she <br />finally got to talk to the appraiser assigned to us. Two days later, he <br />called her back and gave her two numbers and said that it would be one <br />of them but he wasn't sure which one. The difference between the two <br />numbers was $40,000,000, or a tax amount to the City of $85,200. For a <br />City the size of La Porte, $85,200 is a heck of a lot of money. <br /> <br />4. Staff satisfaction is another concern. Ana is very leery of the <br />Appraisal District. It is almost impossible to get in touch with the <br />appraiser and when you finally do, there is always doubt associated with <br />their answer. Ana has informed me numerous times of her frustration in <br />dealing with the Appraisal District. <br /> <br />These are just a few of the problems we have encountered. As I discussed with <br />you last year, because we never really know what our Ad Valorem property is <br />valued at, it was sure nice to know what the value of the Industrial District <br />Properties were, because they make up 35% of our General Fund Revenues. Now I <br />have lost confidence in my ability to provide accurate information in this <br />area because of its source. <br /> <br />In December of 1990, I prepared a memorandum that addressed the process of <br />changing appraisers. The summary of the memorandum was: <br /> <br />"I recommend: <br /> <br />1. that we receive the values from the Appraisal District for this next Tax <br />year, for our Industrial Districts, <br /> <br />2. that a record of time expended and problems experienced by City staff be <br />kept, and <br />