School District and City Request Reappraisals for Hurricane-Damaged Property

By George Slaughter

Both the Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees and the Katy City Council Friday asked for reappraisals of hurricane-damaged properties within their respective limits.

At separate meetings Friday, the district and city passed resolutions making this request to the Fort Bend County Appraisal District, the Harris County Appraisal District, and the Waller County Appraisal District.

A city official said two governmental entities must make such a request for an appraisal district to consider performing reappraisals. The official said that Harris and Fort Bend counties already had two such requests from other entities.

The city’s resolution would make it two requests for Waller County.

City Finance Director Becky Wilkins said reappraisals would take place within 4-6 weeks.

“While no homeowner will be required to seek a reappraisal of their home as a result of the board’s action, the resolution will clear the way for thousands of our families who are recovering from Harvey to seek tax relief on properties damaged by the storm,” KISD Superintendent Dr. Lance Hindt said in a statement.

As always, flooded property owners could protest taxes levied on their homes and business after January 1, 2018, but a reappraisal now could help affected property owners claim a partial rebate in their 2017 tax obligation.