Spring Branch ISD Trustees Approve Reappraisals for Properties Damaged by Hurricane Harvey

Oct. 12, 2017
Download press release >>

SPRING BRANCH ISD – In a unanimous vote held Oct. 11 at a meeting specially called to consider reappraisals, the Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees authorized the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) to reappraise properties inside the school district that were damaged by Hurricane Harvey.

“Over and over, our board members stated their beliefs that this was the right thing to do for our community. It reflects our SBISD core values of a Moral Compass, Collaborative Spirit and Collective Greatness,” SBISD Board of Trustees President Karen Peck said.

“We have seen the Spring Branch community rally in extraordinary ways,” Board Vice President Josef D. Klam said. “This action will provide relief for those who really need it now. People who have not been impacted have been fully supportive of this action. This is what we do as a community.”

The Texas Tax Code provides that a taxing entity located inside an area declared to be a disaster area by the governor may authorize reappraisal of all property damaged by the disaster. The Texas Gulf Coast region has been declared a disaster area by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

The SBISD Board resolution also requests that the Texas Education Agency, Texas Commissioner of Education and the Texas Legislature make necessary adjustments so that SBISD and other districts in the disaster area may fully recover financial losses as a result of storm damages, including costs of reappraisal and diminished revenue. HCAD will charge SBISD an added fee for the reappraisal of impacted properties. District revenues may also decrease due to reappraisals.

SBISD taxpayers will soon receive their 2017 tax statements, which will not reflect any adjusted values. The 2017 statements will be mailed as normal with due dates and applicable penalty and interest dates required by law.  Impacted taxpayers may apply to make installment payments. Adjustments due to reappraisal will be reflected on an adjusted tax statement once the Harris County Appraisal District has completed the reappraisal. This will likely occur by early spring and before the final installment payments are due.

For questions or more information, please contact the Spring Branch ISD Tax Office at 713.251.7960.

Read the Board Resolution and Order to Reappraise Property Here.