The Hays County Central Appraisal District, or Hays CAD, certifies the appraisal roll each year for a large number of taxing entities, allowing the county and local cities to establish tax rates and prepare budgets.
The district requested additional funding from its taxing entities to purchase land and construct an improved office. Municipalities in the district have been voting on the request, many of which have submitted denials.
What’s happening
Hays CAD must resolve at least 95% of all filed protests and approve the appraisal records each year to certify the appraisal roll, according to a letter sent to municipalities by the district. As a result of increased protests filed since 2019, the district determined it needs to expand its workforce.
Hays CAD’s current facility can not accommodate the increased staff, according to the letter. The total cost of the land purchase and new office project would not exceed $15 million.
“All of us are outgrowing our facilities,” said Joe Castillo, Hays CAD Board of Directors chairman. “This is a way to be able to pursue a replacement for what we currently have. Staff are [currently] having to park off-site on the days they have meetings.”
The district completed a feasibility study for a new facility, determining its best option would be the purchase of a 2- to 5-acre plot of land and construction of a new approximately 26,000-square-foot building, according to the letter. The facility would support up to 80 employees.
For the project to pass, three-quarters of the taxing entities within Hays CAD’s purview must approve the funding contributions.
The discussion
Multiple cities in the region have voted against the project’s current proposal, including Austin, Kyle and Buda. The Hays County Commissioners Court voted against the item during a July 7 meeting as well.
“My concern would be paying something that we have no idea what we're paying for,” Kyle Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale said. “I have had cities reach out to me. They're concerned as well.”
Hays County commissioners passed a resolution requesting additional information, analysis and discussion on the facility project. They requested information on the project’s scope, financing, alternatives, timing and budget impacts.
“We have no idea what this project looks like,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Walt Smith said. “We have no idea where it's to be located. There are so many unknowns on this that I won't support it.”
The other side
The San Marcos City Council approved the request. The district had originally searched for a facility that had already been constructed but chose to pursue developing a building to increase the ability to customize the space, said Jane Hughson, San Marcos mayor and Hays CAD secretary.
“The appraisal district is busting at the seams in the building that they have,” Hughson said. “We've already expanded the building once, and now there is no room else to go.”
Looking forward
If three-fourths of the taxing entities within Hays CAD vote to approve the project, all entities will provide increased funding to cover their proportionate share, regardless of whether they voted to deny.
