The Woodlands Township and its chairman, Bruce Tough, said the Montgomery County Appraisal District is unfairly targeting The Woodlands with higher than normal property appraisals. Tough is looking to be appointed to the Montgomery County Appraisal board of directors in hopes of changing the county’s appraisal method and, in the process, lower Woodlands home appraisals.

“The township board and I feel that The Woodlands has been appraised differently from the rest of the county, at a higher valuation,” Tough said.

He said The Woodlands is an “easy target” for appraisal increases and, subsequently, higher revenue for the county.

“[The Woodlands] makes up 20 percent of the population, and we’re paying almost 40 percent of the county’s tax budget,” he said.

Mark Castleschouldt, chief appraiser for Montgomery County, said county home appraisals are based on their market value.

“We don’t create the market, the actual buyers and sellers in the marketplace create the market,” Castleschouldt said. “Our place is to appraise [homes to] 100 percent of the market value. Our job is to mirror what the market directs.”

Tough would need to be approved by the other members of the appraisal board, a vote that could come in October or November, Tough said.

“We feel The Woodlands is represented unfairly compared to other residential areas, commercial areas, and I have decided it’s about time someone steps up and makes a difference,” Tough said.

Castleschouldt said county residents are sometimes displeased with the appraisal of their homes.

“I am sure there are a lot of people throughout the county that think we pick on them,” he said. “We’re not out to pick on anybody. We appraise all property 100 percent of the market value.”

Township General Manager Don Norrell said representatives from the Montgomery County appraisal board will make an appearance at a future township board meeting to discuss the issue of county appraisals. Tough said the appraisal board does not independently set appraisals for the county; that action is led by Castleschouldt.

“I hope to review the [appraisal] policies, meet with the chief appraiser and try to make appraisals more equitable,” Tough said. “And if I can’t do it through the [appraisal] board, I’ll do it through the legislative process. If [the appraisal board] says their hands are tied, I’ll figure out how to untie them.”