Several thousands of property and business owners in Calhoun County will soon be receiving a notice of appraised value from the Calhoun County Appraisal District. The appraisal district will mail out residential and commercial notices on April 13, 2017. Business personal property, mineral and industrial notices will follow at a later date sometime between May 1 and May 20. Your city, county, school district and other local taxing units will use the appraisal district’s value to set your 2017 property taxes. Each taxing unit develops a budget and use the overall net taxable value to establish a tax rate. The tax rate is then applied to your net taxable value to determine the amount of taxes that you owe each year.

State law requires county appraisal districts to notify property owners about changes in their property’s value. The notice also contains important information about the location, ownership and exemptions that have been applied to the property. It must include an estimate of 2017 taxes by local taxing units. The estimate included on the notice of value is based upon the 2016 tax rates. The 2017 tax rates which may be higher or lower will be adopted later this year by each taxing unit.

Property owners who disagree with the appraised value of their property, the exemptions or any other action by the appraisal district have the right to appeal to the Calhoun County Appraisal Review Board (ARB). The ARB is an independent panel of citizens responsible for hearing and settling property owner protests. The notice of appraised value includes instructions on how and when to file a protest, a protest form and the Comptroller’s Property Tax Protest and Appeal Procedures. The deadline for filing a protest with the ARB is May 31st or 30 days after the appraisal district mailed you a notice of appraised value, whichever is later.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s publication, Property Taxpayer Remedies, explains in detail how to protest your property appraisal, what issues the ARB can consider and what to expect during a protest hearing. The publication also discusses the option of taking your case to court or entering into binding arbitration if you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your ARB hearing. There are also videos available on the District’s (www.calhouncad.org) and the Comptroller’s website explaining how to protest a property.

Property Tax Protest and Appeal Procedures is available from the Calhoun County Appraisal District at 426 W Main, Port Lavaca, TX 77979, Phone 361-552-4560. The publication is also available on the Comptroller’s website at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/ or by calling the Comptroller’s Property Tax Assistance Division at (800) 252-9121, ext. 2.

Calhoun County Retired Teachers Association members attended the annual Texas Retired Teachers’ Association Annual Convention in Austin March 27-28. More than 1,000 TRTA members from across Texas focused on both retirees and active teachers working together to protect TRS Care and Retirement Benefits.

Pictured above: members Pat Herren, Carrol Frankson, Joanne Muller, Linda Brush and Mary Ann Claiborne met in District 30 State Represenative Geanie Morrison (in center) during Rally Day at the Capitol on March 29. Kelly Brewer, Cynthia Hons, Theresa Stringham, and Linda Smith also attended Rally Day.

The Calhoun Democrats Club will be hosting a non-partisan political forum on Thursday April 27, 2017 at La Salud Restaurant, 1208 N. Virginia, Port Lavaca, Texas. A social will start at 5:30 p.m. and the forum will start at 6:00 p.m. We are holding this event so that all candidates in the local May 2017 election can have an opportunity to address our club and members of the community. Everyone is invited to attend.

The 2016-2017 school year is about to come to an end. Graduation Day in Calhoun County is set for May 26.  As is our custom, Dolphin Talk would be pleased to recognize all Seniors who will be achieving this important milestone.

Please send us your Senior photo, name, address, and parents’ names to be included in the Graduation issue. We would also like to know of your club/athletic participation and accomplishments while in school, plus any plans you have for your future.

Please email us at dolphin1@tisd.net with your photo and information. If you bring your photo to our office or mail it to us, we will copy it and return it to you. We plan to publish your photos and information in our June issue. Deadline for submissions is June 5th.

We would also like to acknowledge college or trade school graduates. Please let us hear from you. Thank you.

Joyce Rhyne, Editor
Dolphin Talk  – PO Box 777 – Port O’Connor, TX 77982
2232 Monroe, Port O’Connor; 361-983-4667