State Tax Commission calls for staff increases as 19,000 appeals pile up; ombudsman role remains unfunded

The State Tax Commission reported to the House Budget Committee that the statewide property assessment program faces a heavy workload — roughly 19,000 appeals pending — and that additional hearing officers and appraisers are needed to reduce the backlog.

Chair Gary Romine said the commission oversees a program that underpins roughly $10.2 billion in locally generated tax revenue and supports thousands of taxing districts. Commission staff requested a package of new decision items that includes two hearing officers, two senior appraisers and clerical support; the governor recommended a single clerical position. The commission said it has historically reallocated existing staff to cover statutorily required tasks when the legislature did not fund new positions.

Members focused in particular on a statutorily mandated ombudsman role that has not existed as a funded, separate position. Commissioners and staff told lawmakers the statutory ombudsman duties have been handled by existing personnel and by the commission’s legislative liaison, but lawmakers argued the law requires an identifiable, funded ombudsman whose duties include educating taxpayers, receiving complaints and recommending statutory changes. Several members said they will press for funding or direct appropriation to create the role.

The panel also examined assessment-maintenance funding (per-parcel support). The commission said the governor recommended a reduction that would preserve $3.30 per parcel for counties under 20,000 parcels but reduce the per-parcel reimbursement for larger counties; commission staff noted counties report average assessment-maintenance costs of about $20 per parcel and that the program historically funded a small portion of those costs.

Next steps: The commission will transmit additional budget detail and answer follow-up requests about appeals volume and the historical funding history for the ombudsman and assessment-maintenance programs. Lawmakers signaled interest in funding the ombudsman—either by adding the new positions or reallocating within the commission’s allotment.

Quote: "We are responsible for oversight of the statewide property assessment program which generates $10,200,000,000 annually in local revenues," Commission Chair Gary Romine said.