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The Van Zandt County Appraisal District board meeting was held Tuesday, August 1 at the CAD office. Chief Appraiser Emily Reeves presented the 2024 budget to board members in a brief meeting at 1 p.m. Board members Ed Bailey, Larry Shackelford and Kyle Thompson were in attendance providing the needed quorum and other staff members in attendance. Bailey openend in prayer. Reeves presented the budget for review; seeking an overal nine percent increase in the overall budget. There is a shift in staffing due to retirements and reassingment of postitions which resulted in suggested salary changes that varied from a 20 percent decrease to a 16 percent increase; Chief Appraiser salary increase by 6.4 percent. The largest increase in the budget is in the Services category in which the Legal budget was increased by 72 percent and contract labor and security by 350 percent. Reeves advised these increases are due to the increase in number of protests, anticipated litigation of protests and need of security to numerous threats. After a brief discussion of the budget the meeting was adjourned for the called “Public Budget Hearing” at 1:15 p.m. The public hearing began promptly at 1:15 p.m. with recognition of no public in attendance, opened with prayer led by Larry Shackelford. Meeting adjourned at 1:16 p.m. The regular board meeting began at 1:30, welcomed by Reeves, prayer by Thompson. They briefly reviewed the proposed budget and unanimously passed the budget as well as the consent agenda items. Reeves advised that $72 million, 102 percent of 2023 collections have been completed, which includes collections from previous litigation. Reporting on ARB, protests, they anticipate completion by the end of September due to a significant increase in protests, about 10,000. In an effort to complete the protests they are holding hearings three days instead of two a week, and split the panel to hear more at once. Also noted that their will be some ARB positions requiring filled for the 2024 year.
