Correction: This story previously stated that the Denton County Commissioners Court adopted effective and rollback tax rates for 2019. The story has since been corrected as the rates have not yet been adopted.  Denton County’s net taxable value increased to approximately $106.2 billion in 2019, a 10.4% increase from 2018, according to certified data released July 18 by the Denton Central Appraisal District. The Denton County Commissioners Court voted July 29 to accept the certified appraisal roll. Michelle French, Denton County’s tax assessor and collector, said the certified values demonstrate the significant growth happening in the county. “Most certainly I’ve seen the tax values in Denton County increase over the years, and a lot of it is ... the building and the development that has occurred; a lot of that development is actually building homes that are maybe a little bit higher on the valuation,” she said. As valuations have risen, so have the number of protests filed by property owners disputing their appraisals. Approximately $1.9 billion in property valuations were still under protest July 18 when the appraisal rolls were certified, French said. That is approximately $5.6 million more than what was under protest last year. In fact, French said, more property valuations were protested in 2019 than in any other year in Denton County’s history. Commissioner Ron Marchant questioned whether that was due to miscalculation on the appraisal district’s part. French said she believes it is largely a result of a heightened awareness about property owners’ ability to protest their appraisals. “I think that between, frankly, a lot of social media communication about appraisals, about property tax relief, property tax reform—you know things like that—I think that that helps to be able to get the word out of what a person’s rights and responsibilities are as a property owner and as a taxpayer,” French said. Commissioner Hugh Coleman said the top concern he hears from constituents about is high tax bills. County Judge Andy Eads said although property values continue to skyrocket due to the area’s growth, the court has done its best not to overburden residents. “As those values have gone up, we’ve continued to lower our rate over the years,” Eads said. “So people would be paying considerably more if we, as a court, had not taken the decision to lower that rate routinely.” To view the entire appraisal roll, click here.