Jefferson Appraisal District Budgets Total $69.05 MM / Year
Jefferson Central Appraisal District budgets total $29 million per year to represent taxing entities. Their board of directors is selected by taxing entities and appoints the chief appraiser. There is no one at the appraisal district representing the property owner. Jefferson CAD has a staff of 242 in 2021, versus 223 in 2015. Jefferson CAD employed 100 appraisers in 2021 to represent tax entities versus 116 in 2015. The appraisal district budget is paid by tax entities. Even the playing field by enrolling in the Property Tax Protection Program. There are no flat fees and no upfront costs. Never pay anything unless we reduce your property taxes that year. Simple 3 step program: 1) enroll in 3 minutes, 2) relax and 3) save.
Total 2018 CAD Budget Including ARBSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Millions of $ | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Total Budget | 7.455 | 7.407 | 6.284 | 6.746 | 6.396 | 7.217 | 6.544 | 6.905 | 7.803 | 7.385 | 7.57 | |
| ARB Operations Budget | 0.0455 | 0.0455 | 0.0450 | 0.0418 | 0.0414 | 0.0378 | 0.0469 | 0.0569 | 0.0649 | 0.076 | 0.087 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since YOU can spend YOUR money better than the government.
Jefferson County CAD Operations and Budgets
Jefferson Central Appraisal District (JCAD) is a mystery to many people.
- 1. Why do they exist?
- 2. Who runs the operation?
- 3. Who funds the operation?
Jefferson Central Appraisal District is a quasi-governmental operation made possible by Tax Code Section 6 regarding the establishment of one appraisal district in each county. Appraisal districts were legislated into existence in 1979 to begin operation in 1981; the legislation is known as the “Peveto Bill”, based on the sponsor. Previously each city, county and school district valued property in their jurisdiction separately and had hearings regarding value. The board of directors consists of representatives of largest tax entities (school, county, city, MUDs, special districts). They are largely a “budget board” with two responsibilities: 1) select the chief appraiser (who runs the appraisal district) and 2) approve the annual budget. Jefferson Central Appraisal District's budget was $6 million in 2021, down 6% from $7 million in 2014. The Jefferson CAD budget is $46 per tax parcel versus $28 per tax parcel statewide.
JCAD Total CAD Budget Including ARB
JJefferson Central Appraisal Districts annual budget, along with the budget for the ARB are below. Texas appraisal district budgets are substantial. These are public servants paid with public money. Do you feel like a valued client when you visit the appraisal district? Are you surprised at the amount of budget for Jefferson Central Appraisal District?
The 2021 budget for the Jefferson County Appraisal Review Board was $56,855 versus $45,510 in 2014.
Total Property Taxes Levied Jefferson CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Billions of $ | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Property Taxes Levied | 0.5332 | 0.5301 | 0.5189 | 0.5419 | 0.5911 | 0.6097 | 0.6165 | 0.639 | 0.6809 | 0.672 | 0.6861 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Appealing annually helps the appraisal district avoid over-taxing a property for both market value and unequal appraisal.
Jefferson County Total Amount of Property Taxes Levied
Jefferson County tax entities total tax levies have been growing much faster than inflation. This has caused property taxes to rise much faster than inflation. Wage increases have been lean for the past 10 years. However, the total property tax levy for Jefferson County and others have increased 7 to 10% consistently. This was a primary factor in the legislature passing Senate Bill 2 in 2019.
Property taxes for Jefferson County tax entities rose from $533 million in 2014 to $638 million in 20% increase.
FTE Positions In Budget Total - JCADSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| FTEs | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Total Number of FTEs | 44 | 44 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Valuation is a subjective matter where reasonable people can differ.
FTE Positions In Budget Total
Jefferson Central Appraisal District staffing levels are illustrated below. Jefferson Central Appraisal District staff totaled 44 in 2015 and 39 in 2021. The number of appraisers was 14 in 2015 versus 18 in 2021. The number of administrative / clerical staff was 30 in 2015 versus 21 in 2021.
FTEs Assigned to the Appraisal - JCADSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| FTEs | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| FTEs Appraisal Total | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | |
| Residential | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 5 | |
| Commercial | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | |
| All Other | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since It is a great way to slow the growth of government spending (of your money).
JCAD FTEs Assigned to the Property Appraisal
Jefferson Central Appraisal District has two groups of staff: 1) appraisers and 2) administrative staff / everyone else. The number of appraisers at Jefferson CAD in 2015 was 14 versus 18 in 2021. Texas appraisal districts employed a total of 2,293 appraisers in 2021, or one appraiser per 9,141 tax parcels.
The 18 appraisers employed by Jefferson Central Appraisal District value 148,914 tax parcel, or 8,273 tax parcels per appraiser. The Texas average is 9,141 tax parcels per appraiser.