KELCY WARREN UNDER FIRE AS PIPELINE PROTESTS HIT DALLAS 49
DECEMBER 2016 I Vol. 36, No. 12 I parkcitiespeople.com I @pcpeople I 214-739-2244
County Records Reveal Hidden Charges for Property Views S C H O O LS
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Residents are being charged for views of a golf course they can’t see.
By Joshua Baethge People Newspapers
When Highland Park resident Stephen White got his property tax bill this year, he was sure the amount was too high. What he didn’t know was that he was being charged extra for a view of a golf course he can’t even see. In July, he took his case before a four-member review panel at the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD). White, who works as a Realtor, argued that his appraisal value was not in line with other area sales. After a few minutes of discussion, the DCAD panel representative said he might agree. Buried in the data on White’s home was a note that his
property appraisal had been increased by 10 percent because he had a “view amenity of the Dallas Country Club.” “That’s when I started to get a little upset,” White said. “I have no view.” White lives on busy Mockingbird Lane directly across from the Dallas Country Club. When nearby traffic signals halt the stream of cars, he can look across the road and see a 14foot high wall of bushes. Behind them is presumably a golf course, though you wouldn’t know it from his driveway. According to Chapter 23 of the Texas Property Tax Code, amenities and views are factors an appraiser may consider when calculating property value. However, what exactly constitutes a premium view or amenity is at the ap-
praiser’s sole discretion. “Our goal is to determine, ‘What is the value?’” DCAD spokesperson Cheryl Jordan said. “It’s not an exact science, and every year stands alone.” When property owners get their tax bills, they see a new value and a market adjustment percentage. This information is also available online. However, DCAD’s website does not include notes from the appraisers on what may have determined the adjustments. That requires a trip to the DCAD offices on North Stemmons Freeway. According to DCAD’s records, appraisers added 10 percent to their property value
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