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Home My WebLink AboutR-1997-08 ) . e RECEIVED AUG 1 1 1997 CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE Harr~s County Appraisal District Interoffice Memorandum OFFICE OF CHIEF APPRAISER TO: PRESIDING OFFICERS OF T AXfNG;tiNITS SERVED BY THE HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT . FROM: JIM ROBINSON, CInEF APPRAISER SUBJECT: SELECTION OF APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS DATE: AUGUST 4, 1997 As you may know, your taxing' unit participates in selecting members of the Harris County Appraisal District Board of Directors. The board is composed of six members. Members serve two-year terms, and the terms of members currently serving expire December 31, 1997. This memorandum sets out the process we will follow in selecting members for the two-year term that begins Ja.T!uary 1. 1998. Participating Uni,ts The current method of selecting directors was established by resolutions of the county, cities, and school districts participating in the appraisal district in 1981 and was modified by action of the board of directors in 1991. Sec. 6.031, Tax Code, authorizes an appraisal district to vary both the size and the method of selecting its board members. The Harris County Appraisal District Board of Directors consists of six members, selected as follows. · One member appointed by Harris County Commissioners Court. · One member appointed by the Houston City Council. · One member appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Houston Independent School District. · One member appointed by vote of the city coUncils of the cities other than Houston. Each council casts a single vote. The candidate who receives the most votes is elected. · One member appointed by vote of the boards of trustees of the school districts other than Houston Independent School District. Each board casts a single vote. The candidate who receives the most votes is elected. e .e Presiding Officer August 4, 1997 Page 2 · One member appointed by vote of the governing bodies of those conservation and reclamation districts that levied a property tax in 1997 and also plan to levy in 1998. Each body casts a single vote. The candidate who receives the most votes is elected. · In-the .event the county appoints someone other than the county assessor-collector to the board, new legislation effective January 1, 1998, provides that the county assessor-collector will serve ex officio in a non-voting capacity as a seventh member of the board (Sa 841, effective January 1, 1998). Eligibility Requirements An individual must satisfy certain residency, employment, and conflict-of-interest requirements to be eligible to serve on the board of directors. Residency: The candidate must be a resident of the Harris County Appraisal District, and must have resided in the district for at least two years immediately preceding the date he or she takes office. Employment: An employee of a taxing unit served by the appraisal district may not serve unless the employee is also a member of the governing body or an elec'i:ed official of a taxing unit that participates in the district. For example, a member of the governing body of a school dis~~t who is also a city employee would be eligible to serve ~n the appmsal'district's board of --, directors. Elected officials or members of governing bodies who are not employed by taxing units may serve on the board. ConOict-or-interest: A candidate may not serve if the candidate is related to a person who is in the business of appraising property or represents property oWJ:1ers for a fee in proceedings in the appraisal district. Relatives barred are those within the second degree by consanguinity (blood) or affinity (marriage). These persons include: spouse; children; brothers and sisters; parents; grandparents; and grandchildren. The spouse's relatives in the same degree are included. A candidate who contracts with the appraisal district for any purpose, or with a taxing unit served by the district for a property tax related purpose, may not serve. The same rule applies to candidates who have a substantial interest in businesses contracting with the appraisal district (for any purpose) or with the taxing unit (for property tax purposes). A candidate has a substantial interest if the candidate or the candidate's spouse has combined ownership of at least ten percent (10%) of the voting stock or shares of the business. A candidate also has a substantial interest if the candidate or the candidate's spouse is a partner, limited partner, or an e e Presiding Officer August 4, 1997 Page 3 officer of the business. These prohibitions on contracting continue for the duration of the affected director's tenD of office. The appraisal district may not employ any person who is related to an appraisal district director within the second degree by affinity or the third degree by consanguinity. The provision applies to existing employees at the time the director takes office and to employees hired during the director's term. Selection Procedures The procedures for selecting members of the board of ~ctors for the two year term beginning on January 1, 1998, are as follows: For Cities and Towns Other Than the City of Houston The'cities~iilQ towm;-otJierthan:th~.city of Houston appomt one'meinberby majority vote:.-The ;process-f01:.tAese:cities'aiia.iowiiSiiivolves two steps: noiDination and election. Nomination ,', ..~{ . . EaCii'CitYan(tto~ lU.S the right to nominate a single candidate for the po~ition. To ~ominate, the governing body !!!~ adopt a resolution nominating the candidate by fonnal aCtion on or after September 1,1997. The presiding officer of the governing body must submit the nominee's name to the chief appraiser of the Harris County Appraisal District by October 16, 1997. The officer must provide a certified copy of the resolution and may include a cover letter naming the nominee. Election Before October 30, 1997, the chief appraiser will prepare a ballot listing the nominees in alphabetical order. The chief appraiser will deliver a copy of the ballot to the presiding officer of the governing body of each voting city or town. Before November 15, 1997, each governing body must cast its vote for one of the nominees, formally adopt a resolution naming the person for whom it votes, and submit a certified copy to the chief appraiser: e e Presiding Officer August 4, 1997 Page 4 Before December 2, 1997, the chief appraiser will count the votes, declare the results, and notify the winner, the nominees, and the presiding officers of eacb city and town. A tie vote will be resolved by a method of chance chosen by the chief appraiser. - For School Districts Other Than the Houston Independent School District Exactly the same procedure described for cities and towns above applies to the selection of the member who represents school districts other than Houston ISD. These school districts must nominate and elect following the deadlines and procedures described above. For Conservation and Reclamation Districts The 'procedure and timetable for selecting the member who represents the conservation and . reclamation' districtS are the same as that described above for small cities and school districts. Only those conservation and reclamation districts that levied a property tax in 1997 and intend to do so in 1998 may participate. For Harris County, the City of Houston, and the Houston Independent School District ,', Before November 15, 1997, the governing body' of each of these entities appoints a single member to represent it on the board. Each governing body must formally adopt a resolution naming the person. Before December 2,1997, each unit must submit the person's name to the secretary of the board. The unit must provide a certified copy of the resolution and may include a cover letter naming the person. The names and addresses of the secretary of the board of directors and the chief appraiser of the Harris C~)Unty Appraisal District are as follows: Charles Garrison Secretary, Board of Directors Harris County Appraisal District 2800 North Loop West, 8th Floor P. O. Box 920975 Houston, TX 772')2-0975 Jim Robinson Chief Appraiser Harris County Appraisal District 2800 North Loop West, 8th Floor P. O. Box 920975 Houston, TX 77292-0975 To assist you in this process, I have enclosed a suggested. form of resolution for the nomination of a candidate to the board of directors of the Harris County Appraisal District. ~ Presiding Officer August 4, 1997 Page 5 e e We invite your questions or comments on the board selection process. Please do not hesitate to call me at 713/957-5291. With kindest regards, ~~ J~ Robinson Chief Appraiser Attachments --"- ...""- c: HCAD Board Members Tax Assessors Attorneys