Harris County chief appraiser briefs board on digest, appeals and homestead-deadline extension

Shalley Mallerie, Harris County chief appraiser, presented the county’s preliminary digest figures and current appeals status to the Board of Commissioners on June 16.

Mallerie told commissioners the county’s gross digest had increased by 2.53% and the taxable (net) digest increased by 2.13% from the prior year. She said conservation‑use acreage is roughly 98,000 acres and that about 89,000 acres fall under a program referenced in the briefing; the office also reported just under 2,000 "KUA" covenants and just over 200 "FIPA" covenants in the county.

Mallerie walked through public confusion caused by a new notice of assessment format (implemented across the state) and said many property owners mistakenly equate the notice’s estimated tax‑savings field with the tax bill. She urged residents to use the county calculator and to remember to add sanitation fees and school bond assessments when estimating actual bills.

She reminded the public that, because of legislative changes, the deadline to appeal valuations and to apply for homestead exemptions is extended to July 6, 2026. At the time of her report the office had 17 real‑property appeals and four personal‑property appeals pending.

Commissioners thanked the assessor’s staff for outreach via the county website and social media and asked staff to consider additional public education before final millage work begins.

What happens next: the assessor’s office will continue processing appeals through July 6 and will provide digest figures to county finance staff for millage calculations.