A. Recognition Of Outgoing Board Member, Blanca Zamora-Garcia, For 27 Years Of Service To The Travis Central Appraisal District Board Of Directors

[A. Recognition Of Outgoing Board Member, Blanca Zamora-Garcia, For 27 Years Of Service To The Travis Central Appraisal District Board Of Directors]

RECOGNITION OF OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER BLANCA ZAMORA, GARCIA FOR 27 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

LEANA MANN: ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE AT TCAD, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY, MANY YEARS OF SERVICE. I KNOW MY WHOLE CAREER, YOU'VE BEEN JUST A GREAT BOARD MEMBER AND SUCH A WONDERFUL HUMAN SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE YEARS OF SERVICE.

BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: WOW. THIS. THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A JOURNEY, BUT TODAY IS SO BITTERSWEET. I'VE MET SUCH WONDERFUL PEOPLE, MEMBERS AND THE STAFF. I WANT TO CRY. I'VE KNOWN DIANA SINCE I LONG. BUT HE GOT HE GOT OFF ABOUT FIVE YEARS, SEVEN YEARS.

YOU YES, BUT YES, DICK AND I STARTED 27 YEARS AGO. I THINK

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THERE'S ONE OTHER MEMBER, MR. PFLUGER, THAT WAS ON THE BOARD, LIKE OVER 40 YEARS. YEAH, IS I? WHEN I WAS ON THE ARB? HE WAS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, A NICE MAN. I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR, FOR THE TIME THAT I GOT TO SPEND WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THIS ADMINISTRATION, THE BOARD, YOU GUYS MAKE IT, AND THE STAFF THAT YOU HAVE IS A PLUS, VERY, VERY GOOD. I REALLY COMMEND YOU ON WHAT YOU DO. AND IS IT OKAY IF I SAY THIS, BUT THE CHIEF APPRAISERS THAT HAVE DONE THE MOST ARE WOMEN THAT HAVE REALLY ADVANCED THE DISTRICT, AND I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT. I GUESS, BECAUSE YOU'RE MORE ORGANIZED AND WORK, I'M GOING TO MISS IT, BUT KNOW THAT A FRIEND, I'M HERE TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN, AND I WON'T GO AWAY. I STILL, I STILL CALL CELIA, EVERYONE, JETT, AND I ALWAYS SOMETIMES BOTHER YOUR WIFE SO AND JAMES, JAMES, WHEN JAMES STARTED, HE SIT NEXT NEXT TO ME, AND HE RIGHT AWAY I KNEW HE HAD THE SKILLS TO REALLY BE A LEADER AND LOOK AT HIM WONDERFUL. AND I MISS ELEANOR. ELEANOR SERVED A LONG TIME TOO, YEAH, SO I BETTER STOP WITH HIM AND CRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, BUT I'M GOING TO COME BACK AND VISIT YES, CELIA ISRAEL: MR. CHAIR, JAMES VALADEZ: MISS CARTWRIGHT, AND THEN MS. ISRAEL DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I'VE APPRECIATED WORKING WITH YOU, AND ESPECIALLY WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE WITH REGARD TO REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS, AND YOU'VE BEEN AWARE OF WHAT THE MARKET IS LIKE, AND BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOARD ABOUT DECISIONS WE'VE MADE ON APPRAISALS, AND FOR THEM, VERY GRATEFUL, ALSO GRATEFUL FOR THE SENSITIVITY THAT YOU'VE SHOWN TO THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT OF OUR COUNTY, AND YOU'VE REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE AS FAR AS COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND OUTREACH. AND AGAIN, THE CHIEF APPRAISER HAS HAS FOLLOWED THROUGH ON YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND IT'S MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: I KNOW I SAW THE MAYOR ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND HE SAID, ARE YOU SURE? ARE YOU CERTAIN? CERTAINLY? NO MAYOR, I DO NOT THIS. IS IT OKAY? OKAY? WANT TO MAKE SURE CELIA ISRAEL: I'VE ONLY SERVED WITH YOU ON THIS BOARD FOR A YEAR, BUT OF COURSE, I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND REPRESENTATION DOES MATTER, AND THAT INCLUDES YOUR LEGENDARY BROKERAGE ON SOUTH FIRST CASABLANCA REALTY. BUT BRINGING YOUR YOUR PRAGMATIC REALTOR HELPER BRAIN TO THIS BOARD AND THIS ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN QUITE HELPFUL, AS AS DEBORAH MENTIONED, AND YOU KNOW, JUST AS A LATINA LEGEND HERE IN IN IN CENTRAL TEXAS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOUR VOICE. SO THANK YOU FOR FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION IN SO MANY WAYS AS THAT BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK DEPICTS. SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND AND ALWAYS BEING A GUIDE FOR ME, I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH SERVED ON THE CHAMBER. YEAH, ALL KINDS OF GOOD STUFF.

THANK YOU BLANCA, THANK YOU JAMES VALADEZ: MR. LAVINE DICK LAVINE: I'VE ALREADY HAD A CHANCE TO SAY A LOT OF THIS TO BLANCA PERSONALLY, BUT AND WE'VE BEEN SEAT MATES FOR MANY OF THESE YEARS, WHICH REALLY HELPED ME OUT A LOT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK MAKES THIS BOARD SO STRONG IS A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES WE BRING TO IT, AND THAT'S, AS ALREADY MENTIONED, YOU BROUGHT SOMETHING THAT OTHERWISE WE WOULD NOT HAVE SEEN, WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN THAT PERSPECTIVE, AND IT'S MADE OF THE DISTRICT, AND THIS BOARD A LOT STRONGER FOR THAT. SO THANK YOU.

BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU SMILE SO MUCH.

JAMES VALADEZ: AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY WHEN I FIRST CAME ONTO THE BOARD, I KNOW THAT I WAS REALLY LEANING ON YOU A LOT TO GET MY BEARINGS, AND I FEEL LIKE YOU HELPED GUIDE ME TO BE THE BOARD MEMBER THAT I AM TODAY, BOTH BOTH IN THIS BOARDROOM, BUT BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AS WELL. I'VE REALLY APPRECIATED OUR FRIENDSHIP AND ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND ALL I KNOW THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY, RAISING THE VOICES OF THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE. VOICE, I THINK, IS THE

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LEGACY THAT YOU HAVE WITHIN OUR CITY, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, AND I KNOW THAT THE BOARD IS RICHER FOR YOUR SERVICE, BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU.

BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: THE THAT'S ALL I HAVE A GOOD TIME.

NOW WE HAVE TO WORK.

JAMES VALADEZ: THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 5B DISCUSSION

[B. Discussion And Possible Action On Taxpayer Liaison Report]

AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON TAXPAYER LIAISON OFFICER REPORT.

BETTY THOMPSON, TAXPAYER LIAISON: GOOD MORNING. I HAVE A FEW LITTLE REVIEW AND FEW HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE REPORTS THAT I HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE MONTHLY REPORT, WHICH IS THE ONE WITH THE PIE CHART TO THE FAR RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF COMMUNICATIONS THAT I'VE RECEIVED THIS YEAR. IF WE CARRY FORWARD THE SAME NUMBER RECEIVED IN DECEMBER OF 2024 INTO 2025 IT'S ABOUT A 15% REDUCTION. I DID A COMPARISON. EVEN THOUGH WE'RE I'M COMPARING 11 MONTHS OF 2025, TO 12 MONTHS OF 2024, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU, THESE THIS ACTIVITY WILL NOT CHANGE. WE HAVE SEEN THE EXEMPTION CATEGORY BE THE FORERUNNER ALL OF 2025. IT WILL IN 2024 20% OF MY COMMUNICATIONS WERE FOR EXEMPTIONS TODAY, 11 MONTHS, 32% MARKET VALUE WAS THE SAME, EFFECTIVELY, YEAR OVER YEAR, AS IS ALL OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES, EXCEPT FOR THE FORMAL HEARING CATEGORY, WHICH IN 2024 I RECEIVED. 21% OF MY COMMUNICATIONS WERE RELATED TO THE FORMAL HEARINGS. TODAY IT IS 8% SO MOVING TO MY NEXT ACTIVITY REPORT, YOU'LL SEE ONLY TWO OF THEM WERE INDICATED AT AN ESCALATED LEVEL OF TIER FOUR, MORE GENERAL INFORMATION FOR YOU. AND THEN THE OTHERS ARE, OF COURSE, SORTED BY THAT ESCALATION LEVEL REQUIRING STAFF HELP DOWN TO THINGS THAT ARE APPROPRIATELY CLASSIFIED FOR THE TLO THROUGH JUST GENERAL CUSTOMER SERVICE QUESTIONS. SO THE NEXT REPORT IS OUR DEPUTY TAXPAYER LIAISONS ACTIVITY REPORT THAT IS FOR REALLY THE TWO DAYS OF LATE HEARINGS THAT THE ARB HELD IN NOVEMBER. THEY SHE HAD FIVE INTERACTIONS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS, ALL OF THEM WERE CLASSIFIED AS LANGUAGE ASSIST. THE NEXT REPORT THAT I'M PRESENTING TO YOU IS A DRAFT COMPTROLLER REPORT BY THE TIME YOU MEET AGAIN, I WILL HAVE SUBMITTED BY THE DECEMBER 31 DEADLINE, MY REPORT TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE. COMPTROLLER'S REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMUNICATIONS PRESENTED TO THE TLO THAT NEED TO BE REPORTED TO THEM ARE RELATED TO WHETHER THE ARB OR THE CAD DURING A FORMAL HEARING, THAT THEY'VE BEEN EFFICIENT, FAIR, AND MET THE MODEL HEARING PROCEDURES. SO THIS IS A DRAFT OF SOME NO, 25 IT'S ACTUALLY 3% OF THE TOTAL THAT I HAVE NOW. I DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE ANY MORE OF COMPLAINTS THAT WOULD BE RELATED TO THIS REPORTING CATEGORY. IN 2024 I REPORTED 6% SO THIS IS A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER THAT WILL GO TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE. I WILL TAKE A SECOND REVIEW OF THIS. I HAVE ONE PARTICULAR PROPERTY OWNER THAT THEIR COMPLAINT BEGAN AS A MARKET VALUE COMPLAINT. IT'S MORPHED INTO A PROCEDURAL COMPLAINT OF THE ARB AND THE CAD. SO I'LL REVIEW THAT AND PERHAPS ADD IT TO THIS. IT'S OF NO SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT TO YOU.

IT'S JUST WE'RE GRASPING FOR SOMETHING ELSE TO PRESENT AS AN ITEM THAT MAY HAVE GONE WRONG IN THEIR HEARING, I GUESS, AND THE ARB AND I HAVE SPENT SIGNIFICANT TIME ANSWERING THIS PROPERTY OWNER THEN. WILL TAKE A SECOND REVIEW OF THE DEPUTY TLO OVERALL

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REPORT TO MAKE SURE THAT I DID NOT MISS ANYTHING THAT NEEDED TO GO TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE. ABOUT 50% OF HER CAPTURED CONTACTS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS ARE A LANGUAGE ASSIST SO, AND SHE IS HERE TO DO THAT DURING THE HEARING DAYS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FINAL REPORT IN THIS GROUP, IT'S THE ZIP CODE REPORT. IT'S NOTHING NEW. THE WEST AUSTIN AREA, LAKE, TRAVIS, BEE CAVE, SPICEWOOD, THEY STILL HAVE SHOWN AN INCREASE IN 2025 OF THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT THEY SUBMIT TO THROUGH THE TLO OFFICE. THE FINAL THING IS A RECAP OF THE ACTIVITY THAT OCCURRED WITH THE ARB RECRUITING SO SETTING A GOAL OF 125 FOR THE 2026 MEMBERSHIP COUNT FOR THE ARB, WE NEEDED 48 NEW MEMBERS.

WE WERE ABLE TO INTERVIEW 35 THAT PUTS US UNDER GOAL OF 13 ARE UNDER TARGET. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THE APPLICATIONS THAT WE RECEIVE, I RECEIVED 7926 OF THEM WERE REAPPOINTMENT CANDIDATES. 35 OF THEM ARE ON YOUR AGENDA TO BE APPOINTED TODAY. AND THIS IS WHERE I WHAT I CALL THE SHRINKAGE, WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE OTHER CANDIDATES? I HAD THREE THAT WERE NON RESPONSIVE TO ME. THEY APPLIED, BUT THEY DIDN'T RESPOND TO ME ABOUT SCHEDULE, SCHEDULING AN INTERVIEW I HAD.

I'M SORRY. I HAD THREE NO SHOWS, FIVE THAT WERE NON RESPONSIVE, AND THEN I HAD THREE INELIGIBLE CANDIDATES. THEY EITHER DIDN'T LIVE IN THE COUNTY, THEY WORKED FOR A TAXING ENTITY, OR THEY WERE RELATED TO A MEMBER ALREADY ON THE ARB. HAD A FEW WITHDRAWN APPLICATIONS. PEOPLE WITHDRAW BECAUSE THEY TAKE OTHER JOBS.

ONE INDICATED THE PAY WAS TOO LOW, AND THEN I HAD ONE CURRENT MEMBER THAT DIDN'T NEED TO APPLY. SO WE BEGAN THIS APPLICATION PERIOD IN SEPTEMBER, AND WE HAD FOUR INTERVIEW DAYS SINCE THE TIME THAT THE APPLICATION OPENED. I TRIED TO CAPTURE WHERE WE WERE ADVERTISING. SO WE HAD THE POSTCARD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE, WE HAD RADIO ADS, DID A JOB FAIR, JOB BOARD, AND THEN THERE WERE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE REPORTED TO ME, NOT SPECIFICALLY CONTACTED BY ME, BUT THAT I CAPTURED THE DATA THAT WHERE AN APPLICANT MAY HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY HEARD ABOUT US. SO ONE OF THE NEW ONES WAS THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. AND WE ACTUALLY GOT A CANDIDATE FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. WE ALWAYS GET CANDIDATES FROM THE RADIO ADS. SO THAT IS THE MAJOR COSTLY ONE THAT WHERE WE DO ADVERTISE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE ARB, THEIR PERSONAL RECRUITMENT AND THEIR REFERRALS, IS STILL THE NUMBER ONE CATEGORY WHERE WE OBTAIN APPLICANTS. SO I'M GIVING YOU A CHART OF THE BREAKDOWN OF THE ARB MEMBERSHIP. BY YEAR, 61% OF THIS BOARD WILL BE IN TERM ONE YOUNG MEMBERS ON THE BOARD. REGULAR MEMBERS WILL BE 43 THAT MEANS THEIR QUORUM NUMBER IS HALF OF THE REGULAR MEMBERSHIP, AN AUXILIARY MEMBER DOES NOT COUNT TOWARD THE QUORUM. SO I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: YES, JAMES VALADEZ: BLANCA, BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: OF THE APPLICANTS, HOW MANY ZIP CODES ARE REPRESENTED. HOW MANY OF THEM ARE ZIP CODES? HOW MANY NORTH OR THE BETTY THOMPSON, TAXPAYER LIAISON: I DID NOT BREAK THAT DOWN BY ZIP CODES, SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW. I MEAN, WE INTERVIEWED EVERY ELIGIBLE CANDIDATE, SO I CAN GIVE THAT TO THE BOARD NEXT TIME, BUT I DIDN'T BREAK IT DOWN.

BLANCA ZAMORA GARCIA: OKAY, THANK YOU JAMES VALADEZ: MR. LAVINE DICK LAVINE: JETT WOULD PROBABLY KNOW BEST, BECAUSE DUE TO SOME CONFLICTS, DANIEL AND I COULDN'T MAKE SOME OF THEM, AND JETT JUST DID A LOT OF THE INTERVIEWS ALL BY HIMSELF. BUT WAS MY IMPRESSION THAT WE WERE GETTING A PRETTY GOOD RANGE GEOGRAPHICALLY AND FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS OF APPLICANTS,

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ALMOST ALL OF WHICH WE HEAR.

JETT HANNA: YES, I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN MY REPORT. BUT WE DID GET AN AMAZING RANGE OF BOTH EXPERIENCE AND AREAS OF THE COUNTY, I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCENTRATED TOWARD, IT SEEMS LIKE THE MANOR AREA IN IN THERE'S AN AREA OF EAST AUSTIN WHERE WE HAVE A YOU HAVE A IT'S A STRONG COMMUNITY THAT HAS LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RETIRED FOLKS, AND WE SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE COME FROM THAT.

JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU. WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT. ZIP CODETT DATA, JETT HANNA: OKAY JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU.

THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 5C DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE

[C. Discussion And Possible Action On Appraisal Review Board Chairman Report]

ACTION ON THE ARB CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. NOW HEAR FROM MR. MCBEE.

BARRY MCBEE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS, I WILL BE VERY BRIEF. YOU'VE GOT MY WRITTEN REPORT BEFORE YOU, SINCE I THINK I WAS LAST BEFORE YOU, AS NOTED, WE HAD OUR LAST CORRECTION HEARINGS FOR 2025 OVER TWO DAYS IN NOVEMBER, WE CONTINUE ON A DAILY BASIS TO ANSWER THE INQUIRIES THAT COME IN FROM PROPERTY OWNERS AND AGENTS. THOSE HAVE INCREASED, AS ONE MIGHT EXPECT, WITH TAX BILLS GOING OUT, PEOPLE NOW MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE APPRAISALS, SO WE ARE DEALING WITH MOST OF THOSE, SETTING A NUMBER OF HEARINGS FOR FEBRUARY, PROBABLY JANUARY, FEBRUARY OF 2026, ALREADY IN AN INFORMAL WAY, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN THE OFFICE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE TRANSITION OF IDENTIFYING WORKING WITH MR. MILLS AS WELL IN TERMS OF NECESSARY CHANGES TO THE PROTEST PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR. WORKING A GREAT DEAL ON THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE TRY TO HAVE WITH PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE CONSISTENT AND UNIFORM. IT'S AN EFFICIENCY OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONVEY INFORMATION AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO ANSWER INDIVIDUALLY. BUT WE ARE WRECKING WE DO RECOGNIZE THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF EVERY QUESTION WE RECEIVE. AND THEN FINALLY, ALSO FOCUSING A LOT ON THE TRAINING THAT WE THINK WILL NEED TO TAKE PLACE NEXT YEAR. EVERY SEASON YOU LEARN SORT OF THE STRONG POINTS AND MAYBE SOME POINTS THAT ARE NOT QUITE AS STRONG IN TERMS OF THE CAPABILITIES AND UNDERSTANDING OF ARB MEMBERS ABOUT PROVISIONS OF THE LAW. THIS YEAR, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED, FOR EXAMPLE, ON EXEMPTIONS, A NUMBER OF HEARINGS THAT REALLY PRESENT SOME CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES THERE.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE ONE AREA FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING OVER THE COURSE OF NEXT YEAR. IN CLOSING, WHEN I STOOD HERE BEFORE YOU A FEW MONTHS AGO, I DIDN'T THINK THIS WOULD BE MY FINAL REPORT. I DID NOT ANTICIPATE, BUT AS I GOT INTO THE CONDUCT OF THIS JOB AND SOME PRIOR COMMITMENTS THAT I HAD MADE, JUST BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT I COULDN'T DO EVERYTHING, SO I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION, WHICH WAS CHALLENGING, TO SORT OF GIVE UP THIS POSITION AND KIND OF CONTINUE WITH SOME OF THE PRIOR COMMITMENTS I'D MADE. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO DO THIS BEEN IT'S BEEN REALLY A CHALLENGE AND A LOT OF FUN, PARTICULARLY GETTING TO KNOW MY COLLEAGUES. I MAY HAVE SAID THIS EARLIER, IT'S THE MOST DIVERSE BODY OF PEOPLE THAT I INTERACT WITH IN MY LIFE.

WE KIND OF GET IN OUR LANES AND TALK TO, YOU KNOW, TALK TO SAME PEOPLE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN YOUR CHURCH OR IN OTHER CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS. THIS IS A VERY, VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE ARB, A FASCINATING, VERY TALENTED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS. SO THAT'S BEEN, I THINK, PROBABLY THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY AND PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO DO THIS. I STAND READY WHATEVER THE BOARD DOES LATER ON THIS MORNING IN TERMS OF MY SUCCESSOR IN THE NEW SECRETARY, PERHAPS I DO STAND READY TO CONTINUE TO ASSIST. AND I REMINDED THEM, AND I REMINDED ALL MY COLLEAGUES, I HAVE ONE TERM LEFT ON THE ARB, AND I MAY COME BACK TO HUNT THEM AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE AFTER I KIND OF CLEAR UP SOME OTHER MATTERS. SO AGAIN, MY THANKS FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO DO THIS. IT'S BEEN A GREAT PRIVILEGE GETTING TO KNOW SOME OF YOU AS WELL, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED WORK OF THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD. I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE QUESTION JAMES VALADEZ: FROM MS. CARTWRIGHT DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, BARRY MCBEE: THANK YOU.

DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ONE OF THE THINGS ON YOUR LIST. TELL US MORE ABOUT THE DISCUSSIONS YOU WERE HAVING ABOUT ADVANCED TRAINING. YOU MENTIONED EXEMPTIONS AND BUSINESS, PERSONAL AND COMMERCIAL APPRAISAL. I KNOW THAT USUALLY THERE IS A COMMERCIAL APPRAISAL SEGMENT IN THE TRAINING, BUT TELL US MORE ABOUT THE EXAMPLE.

BARRY MCBEE: WHEN WE DID, WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN A COMMERCIAL APPRAISER. THIS YEAR. TRAINING WAS NOT PROBABLY AS EFFECTIVE AS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. I MEAN, THEY WERE THERE TO TALK ABOUT SORT OF HOW THEY APPROACH. APPRAISING PROPERTIES. THAT'S HELPFUL TO

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THE ARB, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND MORE OF WHAT WOULD ARISE IN THE CONTEXT OF A CHALLENGE TO THE APPRAISED VALUES. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK. WE I STILL USE THAT FOR MY REMAINING FEW DAYS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK, TRY TO FIND MAY PERHAPS, I THINK IDEALLY, IT WOULD BE A MEMBER OF A CAD STAFFER FROM ANOTHER APPRAISAL DISTRICT WHO COULD COME IN AND HAS WORKED WITH APPRAISAL WITH COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, TO KIND OF GIVE US A BETTER SENSE OF HOW THAT PROCESS REALLY WORKS. THE DOLLARS ARE OBVIOUSLY SO HIGH. IS NO SIGNIFICANT AREA MONETARILY, OF ANY INDIVIDUAL PROTEST AREA. WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE CAPABLE YOU GET INTO AREAS JUST THE VALUATION OF THE WIDE ARRAY OF PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, THINGS LIKE CAPITALIZATION RATES, MEAN IT TAKES A FAIR LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION AND UNDERSTANDING. WE NEED TO DO BETTER JOB ON THAT WITH BPP, ALTHOUGH THE VOLUME OF BPP PROTESTS WILL PROBABLY GO DOWN GIVEN THE LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO GET TO SET A HIGHER BAR AGAIN, JUST THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS. THE WHOLE RENDITION PROCESS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY OF US, PROBABLY AS ARB MEMBERS, HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO. SO TO JUST UNDERSTAND THE SORT OF DYNAMICS AND MECHANICS OF THAT AND IN EXEMPTIONS, HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, DISABILITY EXEMPTIONS, PARTICULARLY, WE FOUND SOME INTERESTING ISSUES WITH A STATUTORY DEFINITION OF A DISABILITY, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE WANT TO TRY TO SPEND SOME TIME, IF YOU WILL, SUSSING OUT AND WORKING ON NEXT YEAR. I THINK THE GOAL OF THE NEW CHAIR AND THE CHAIRS ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, WE WANT TO PUT THE BEST EQUIPPED AND BEST TRAINED PEOPLE INTO THESE HEARINGS THAT GIVES THE BEST OPPORTUNITY, BOTH FOR THE DISTRICT AND THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER OR THE AGENT TO MAKE THEIR CASING AND ARRIVE AT WHAT WE THINK IS THE CORRECT VALUE. SO I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT ACTIVITY NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: AND WHAT DID YOU ENVISION REGARDING TRAINING ON EXEMPTIONS? BARRY MCBEE: WE REALLY HAVE NOT ACTUALLY THOUGHT WHEN I SAY THAT. WE'VE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO SORT OF THINK THROUGH THAT, I THINK PART OF THAT WOULD BE, I MEAN, JUST EXPLORING THE SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF HOW THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PROCESS WORKS. AND I KNOW THE DISTRICT SPENT A LOT OF TIME, I THINK ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE DONE IS EDUCATING REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND BROKERS AND EDUCATING TITLE COMPANIES, WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM NEW HOMEOWNERS WHO DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING WHEN THEY'RE ACQUIRING A PROPERTY FOR THE FIRST TIME, OR THE FIRST TIME IN TEXAS, WHAT THEY NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO DO TO PROTEST THEIR VALUE. AND SO IN TERMS OF OBTAINING THEIR EXEMPTION AND ACTUALLY PROTESTING THEIR VALUE AS WELL. WE'LL HAVE TO SPEND SOME TIME, OR MY SUCCESSORS WILL HAVE TO SPEND SOME TIME, I THINK, DECIDING WHO ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO COME IN AND TRAIN ON EXEMPTIONS. WE HAVEN'T FIGURED THAT OUT YET.

DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: WELL, IT'S THAT IS SUCH A LEGAL ISSUE. IT'S USUALLY NOT A FACT CONSIDERATION, SO MUCH AS IT IS AN ELIGIBILITY ISSUE AND A QUALIFICATION ISSUE, SO AN ATTORNEY MIGHT NEED TO COME IN TO CREATE SOME TRAINING FOR THAT, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S VERY CONFUSING.

BARRY MCBEE: AND WE'LL CERTAINLY CALL ON ROY ARMSTRONG, WHO HAS KEPT OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO THE ARB. WE'VE NOT USED MR. ARMSTRONG AS EXTENSIVELY THE LAST COUPLE YEARS BECAUSE WE FELT LIKE WE'VE HAD A GOOD CORE OF INTERNAL TRAINERS. BUT WE HAVE TALKED, OR AT LEAST I'VE TALKED TO MS BROOKS, FOR EXAMPLE, ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF GETTING ROY BACK IN TO KIND OF HELP US ON SOME OF THE EXEMPTIONS. YOU ARE RIGHT. THESE ARE MUCH MORE LEGAL, STATUTORY INTERPRETATION, DEFINITION ISSUES, SOMETIMES WITHIN JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS AND THE PROPERTY VALUES THEMSELVES.

JAMES VALADEZ: MR. LAVINE DICK LAVINE: I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO DEVOTE YOURSELF, WITH YOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN STATE GOVERNMENT, TO HELPING OUT THE DISTRICT AND THE ARB. GREATLY APPRECIATE. THANK YOU BARRY MCBEE: I APPRECIATE THAT. YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS A CHALLENGE. IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO HEAR SOME OF THOSE STATISTICS MISS THOMPSON TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF, FOR EXAMPLE, COMPLAINTS COMING UP IN FORMAL HEARINGS. I THINK WE TAKE THAT AS A TRIBUTE, NOT JUST TO WHAT I DID, BUT WHAT MR., MISS BROOKS, MR. GIFFORD OF THE ENTIRE ARB DID THIS YEAR THAT I THINK WE HAD A GOOD SEASON. I THINK IT WAS A GOOD SEASON. I HOPE THE PROPERTY OWNERS FEEL LIKE THEY WERE SERVED WELL.

JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO

[D. Discussion On Report From Taxpayer Liaison Committee]

ITEM 5D WHICH IS DISCUSSION ON THE REPORT FROM THE TAXPAYER LIAISON COMMITTEE. MR. WANG, CAN YOU KIND OF GIVE US A GIVE THE BOARD A RUNDOWN OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE DID? SHENGHAO WANG: OH, WOW, THAT'S SO WE HAD A NUMBER OF APPLICANTS FOR TLO FOR THE FOR THE TLO POSITION, WE INTERVIEWED THEM. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND ALL OF THE INTERVIEWS. I ATTENDED THE KIND OF THE CANDIDATES WE THOUGHT WERE MOST PROMISING. BUT I THINK I'LL HAVE TO DEFER TO MR. CHAIRMAN TO GIVE A REPORT OF THE FULL KIND OF RUNDOWN. OF THAT, AND WE MIGHT HAVE

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DELIBERATE, I THINK, AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WHEN WE GET TO KIND OF THE DISCUSSION OF THE APPOINTMENT AND THE PERSONNEL TYPE STUFF.

JAMES VALADEZ: SO DANIEL WAS ABLE TO STAY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE INTERVIEWS, AND BEING THE ONLY WITH JOHN LEAVING US ON THE BOARD, I WAS THE ONLY PERSON FROM THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS HEARING THE BACK COUPLE, AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING FORWARD THE CANDIDATES THAT I THOUGHT WERE MOST REASONABLE FOR US TO CONSIDER AS A FULL BOARD WITHOUT MAKING A RECOMMENDATION MYSELF BEING THE ONLY PERSON SITTING FOR THE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FOLKS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR THE POSITION, SO WE WOULD ENTERTAIN THAT IN 5E SO IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE COMMITTEE PERTAINING TO 5D FROM ANYONE ON THE BOARD? DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: JUST TO CLARIFY, ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO WE AS WELL, WILL CONSIDER THESE CANDIDATES IN THE IN OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION? JAMES VALADEZ: YES.

OKAY WITH THAT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO 5E WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND

[E. Discussion And Possible Action On Interview And Appointment Of Taxpayer Liaison Officer]

ACTION ON THE INTERVIEW AND APPOINTMENT OF THE TAXPAYER LIAISON OFFICER. THE BOARD MAY MEET AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DELIBERATE ON ANY MATTER AUTHORIZED BY TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION FIVE, FIVE, 1.01 FOR THIS TIME, WE WILL NEED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION CITING SECTIONS 55107, FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT, DUTIES, DISCIPLINE OR DISMISSAL OF THE CHIEF APPRAISER OR OTHER PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OR TO HEAR A COMPLAINT OR CHARGE AT THIS TIME. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, MOVED BY MS ISRAEL, SECONDED BY MR. WANG, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY AT 1203 THE TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[02:10:13]

THE TIME IS 1:41 AND THE TRAVIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD

[02:10:18]

OF DIRECTORS HAS RECONVENED AFTER GOING INTO EXECUTIVE

[02:10:21]

SESSION. WE HAVE NO ACTION TODAY ON ITEM 5E WE WILL NOW MOVE

[02:10:28]

FORWARD ON OUR REGULAR AGENDA TO 5F WHICH IS DISCUSSION ON REPORT

[F. Discussion On Report From Appraisal Review Board Committee]

[02:10:34]

FROM APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD COMMITTEE.

[02:10:38]

SHENGHAO WANG: ONE QUICK COMMENT, BUT WE DO EXPECT TO

[02:10:40]

TAKE ACTION AT NEXT MONTH'S MEETING ON?

[02:10:43]

JAMES VALADEZ: I DO ANTICIPATE ACTION ON 5E IN JANUARY,

[02:10:46]

CORRECT.

[02:10:50]

JETT HANNA: EXCUSE ME, ALL RIGHT, ON THE APPRAISAL REVIEW

[02:10:54]

BOARD COMMITTEE. BASICALLY, WE HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWING, AND

[02:11:03]

BETTY HAS ORGANIZED THAT FOR US AND ALREADY PRESENTED SOME OF

[02:11:09]

THE NUMBERS THERE. WE DO HAVE A LIST THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING.

[02:11:15]

I'LL JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR PROCESS THIS YEAR,

[02:11:18]

JUST BECAUSE WE DID MAKE SOME SOME ALTERATIONS, JUST IN

[02:11:25]

RESPONSE TO OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ARB CHAIR, AND WANTING TO

[02:11:35]

MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEY WERE GETTING INTO,

[02:11:38]

WHAT THE POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS WERE. THERE WERE VARIOUS THINGS,

[02:11:42]

SUCH AS, PEOPLE WHO SERVED MIGHT WANT TO SERVE AS ELECTION

[02:11:49]

JUDGES, AND THAT'S THEY'RE DISQUALIFIED FROM DOING THAT. TO A LARGE EXTENT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE REST OF THE BOARD UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE JUST BARELY GETTING IN FACT, WE'RE NOT EVEN GETTING ENOUGH PEOPLE TO INTERVIEW, AS OUR TARGETS ARE SET. SO WE THINK, BASED ON LAST YEAR, THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TO GO FORWARD, BUT BECAUSE OF THE ATTRITION THAT WE HAVE ON THE ARB AND ALSO, MOST OF OUR ARB MEMBERS ARE RETIRED.

THEY'VE GOT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, THEY HAVE THINGS COME UP, BUT WHAT WE TRIED TO DO IS SET THE EXPECTATIONS FOR WHAT THE JOB WOULD REALLY BE LIKE. TELL THEM SPECIFICALLY THAT WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE AVAILABLE FULL TIME FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST, AND THAT WHILE WE NEED THEM FULL TIME, THEY MIGHT NOT WORK EVERY DAY. IT'S THE STRANGE STRANGEST HIRING POSITION I'VE EVER BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH, COMING FROM FROM BUSINESS. BUT IN ANY EVENT, SO WE DID THAT PROCESS. WE'VE GOT A LIST FOR YOU, AND I THINK WE'LL BE TAKING ACTION ON THAT IN A MINUTE. WE ALSO INTERVIEWED FOR THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD, CHAIRPERSON AND SECRETARY, AND WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION ON THAT. MEG BROOKS, WHO WAS THE PREVIOUS SECRETARY, WAS OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CHAIR OF THE ARB, AND BYRON GIFFORD FOR THE SECRETARY, WE NOTED SPECIFICALLY HIS WORK ON SCHEDULING. AND I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAD MANY GOOD COMMENTS ABOUT THE OVERALL ADMINISTRATION OF THE RB IN THIS LAST YEAR, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING IN THOSE IN OUR INTERVIEWS OF PEOPLE THAT WERE APPOINTING AND REAPPOINTING SPECIFICALLY TO THE BOARD, IS WE'RE TRYING TO GET A FEEL FOR WHAT THE JOB HAS BEEN LIKE. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT WHAT WAS VERY OBVIOUS IS THAT THINGS ARE BETTER THAN THEY WERE IN THE COVID DAYS, THE TRAINING HAS IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY. THERE ARE STILL THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE THE ARB ARBS WORK EVEN BETTER. AND I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE TRAINING ADJUSTMENTS, AND SO OVERALL, I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT HOW THIS CAN GO. WE GOT A WIDE VARIETY OF PEOPLE HERE, AND BLANCA, WE GOT A ZIP CODE LIST FOR YOU THERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT SO THAT. THAT MAY HELP YOU OUT SOME AS WELL. YEAH,

[02:15:06]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND SO I BELIEVE THAT'S THE ONE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO NOTE WE DO HAVE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE LETTING GO A ARB MEMBER WHO FAILED TO MEET THE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS. JUST AN EXPLANATION THERE. THE APPRAISAL OR THE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS ARE SET BY OUR POLICY, WHICH BASICALLY CALLS FOR GOOD CAUSE, MEANING THAT IF SOMEBODY WAS ABSENT FOR A REASON THAT WAS INTENTIONAL OR THE RESULT OF CONSCIOUS INDIFFERENCE, AND IT CAUSED DELAY, THEN IT'S OKAY TO GO AHEAD AND DISMISS THOSE FOLKS. AND BASICALLY, WE HAD A SITUATION WHERE WE HAD SOMEBODY WHO'S NON RESPONSIVE AND DIDN'T SHOW FOR SOME HEARINGS. THAT'S A JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT. ANY OTHER REPORT.

QUESTIONS FOR JETT? OKAY, AND NO ACTION IS NEEDED ON THAT ITEM.

NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS 5G DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION

[G. Discussion And Possible Action On Removal Of Appraisal Review Board Members That Have Resigned Or Failed To Meet The Policy For Arb Attendance]

ON THE REMOVAL OF APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE RESIGNED OR FAILED TO MEET THE POLICY FOR ARB ATTENDANCE. MISS THOMPSON, BETTY THOMPSON, TAXPAYER LIAISON: SO WE'RE ASKING A REQUEST FROM THE CHAIR TO REMOVE THE ONE MEMBER FOR VIOLATION OF THE ATTENDANCE POLICY AND THEN TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF THE OTHER MEMBER.

SHENGHAO WANG: I MOVE TO REMOVE PRESTON BROUSSARD, WHO HAS FORMALLY RESIGNED FROM THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD, AND CARRIE KEY WHO HAS FAILED TO ADHERE TO THE ATTENDANCE POLICY OF THE ARB.

JAMES VALADEZ: IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. WANG, SECONDED BY MS GARCIA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS 5H DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION. POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE APPOINTMENT OF APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD, CHAIRPERSON,

[H. Discussion And Possible Action On The Appointment Of Appraisal Review Board Chairperson And Secretary For The 2026 Tax Year]

SECRETARY FOR THE 2026 TAX YEAR.

BETTY THOMPSON, TAXPAYER LIAISON: SO THE COMMITTEE HAS REPORTED THEIR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CHAIRPERSON AS MEG BROOKS AND FOR THE SECRETARY AS BYRON GIFFORD. SO WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THOSE TWO OFFICERS FOR THE 2026 YEAR.

JETT HANNA: I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.

JAMES VALADEZ: OKAY. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY MR. HANNA, SECONDED BY MS GARCIA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? HEARING? NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED, THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THANK YOU SO MUCH. LIKE TO STAND UP, STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THANK YOU FOR BEING TROOPERS. IS HANGING WITH US ON THIS AGENDA. WE WILL NOW MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR NEXT ITEM, FIVE

[I. Discussion And Possible Action On The Appointment Of Appraisal Review Board Members For The Two-Year Term Beginning January 1, 2026 Through December 31, 2027, Conditional On The Acceptable Results Of A Criminal Background Check]

I DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE TWO TERM, TWO YEAR TERM BEGINNING JANUARY 120, 26 THROUGH 1231, 27 CONDITIONAL ON THE ACCEPTABLE RESULTS OF A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK AS A REMINDER, BOARD POLICIES REQUIRE THE ARB COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD TO SUBMIT TO THE FULL BOARD A LIST OF RECOMMENDED APPOINTEES TO THE ARB IF A MAJORITY VOTE ON THE LIST OF RECOMMENDED APPOINTEES CANNOT BE REACHED, THE FULL BOARD SHALL VOTE ON EACH INDIVIDUAL ON THE LIST OF RECOMMENDED APPOINTEES. ANY BOARD MEMBER WHO DISAPPROVES AN INDIVIDUAL ON THE LIST OF RECOMMENDED ARV APPOINTEES SHALL IDENTIFY THE BASIS FOR THE DISAPPROVAL MOTION ON THIS MOVED BY MR. HANNA, SECONDED BY MR. WANG. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I DON'T HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH A COMMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE. I MEAN, IT'S A LOT OF EFFORT TO GO THROUGH THESE APPLICANTS AND APPRECIATE VERY MUCH YOUR TIME DOING THIS. THANK YOU ABSOLUTELY.

JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO MOVED BY MR. WANG.

SECOND. DID BY MR. MOVED BY MR. HANNA, SECONDED BY MR. WANG. NO

[02:20:06]

FURTHER DISCUSSION. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, ITEM 5J

[J. Discussion And Possible Action On Chief Appraiser Report To Include: Field Work, Community Outreach, And Taxpayer Experience Snapshot]

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CHIEF APPRAISERS REPORT TO INCLUDE THE 2020, 26 FIELD WORK, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, TAXPAYER EXPERIENCE SNAPSHOT, TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF APPRAISER, MS. MANN.

LEANA MANN: THANK YOU. OUR APPRAISERS ARE STILL OUT IN THE FIELD. WE DO GET CALLS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE FROM PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ASKING IF THEY ARE OUT THERE. OUR STAFF ALL HAVE TCAD SHIRTS SO YOU CAN IDENTIFY THEM WITH THEIR SHIRT AND A MAGNET ON THEIR CAR, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL OUR OFFICE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY CAN CONFIRM IF SOMEONE IS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ABOUT 50% COMPLETE WITH OUR FIELD WORK, SO WE'RE OVER THE HUMP. OUR RESIDENTIAL DEPARTMENT IS AT 45% COMMERCIALS AT 47 AND THEN BPP GETS STARTED A LITTLE BIT LATER, AND THEY'RE AT 36% COMPLETE.

SHENGHAO WANG: QUICK QUESTION I THINK I ASKED THIS LAST TIME, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE ANSWER, SO MY APOLOGIES. ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE 53 VERSUS 64%? LEANA MANN: I'M NOT. THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FURTHEST WE'VE BEEN AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR, IN MANY YEARS. SO WE'RE AT A REALLY GOOD SPOT. IT'S GOING TO LEAVE OUR OUR STAFF, AMPLE TIME TO REALLY GO THROUGH THAT VALUATION AND ANALYSIS TIME PERIOD IN FEBRUARY. SO I THINK WE'RE WE'RE DOING REALLY GOOD, GOOD TO HEAR FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH. WE HAD A VERY BUSY NOVEMBER. WE DID A TCAD, 101 EVENT FOR THE ANDERSON MLK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

WE'VE DONE THE VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION WITH CITY OF AUSTIN.

DID A ANOTHER TCAD, 101 FOR CRESTVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, RESOURCE FAIR WITH AUSTIN ENERGY. AND THEN MANY OF OUR STAFF GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BROWN SANTA, WHICH WAS A REALLY FUN EVENT. THEY GOT TO GO AND WRAP GIFTS, AND THEY REALLY THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THAT. AND WE'VE ALSO HAD MULTIPLE DAYS WHERE WE'VE DONE SANDY CREEK OFFICE HOURS, WHERE CYNTHIA AND STAFF HAVE SET UP AT A CHURCH THERE IN SANDY CREEK AND JUST BEEN AVAILABLE IF ANY PROPERTY OWNER NEEDED TO COME BY AND ASK QUESTIONS OR TURN IN APPLICATIONS. WE ALSO HAVE A SANDY CREEK PROPERTY TAX CLINIC ON SATURDAY THE 13TH. IT'S FROM TWO TO FOUR, SO WE WILL BE AT THE ROUND MOUNTAIN CHURCH IN SANDY CREEK. WE'LL BE THERE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, OR IF ANYONE HAS AN APPLICATION OR DOCUMENTATION THEY NEED TO GIVE US, THEY CAN MEET US THERE AT THE CHURCH, BRING IT IN, AND WE CAN ASSIST THEM. WE'RE ALSO DOING AN AG PRESENTATION ON FRIDAY WITH THE TEXAS A & M AG EXTENSION, AND THEN OUR TAXPAYER EXPERIENCE SNAPSHOT, OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE GROUP IS CONTINUING TO DO A FANTASTIC JOB. THEY'RE SCORING A 4.5 OUT OF FIVE. AND THIS YEAR, WE LOOKED BACK, BECAUSE WE HAD NOW TWO YEARS OF DATA THAT WE COULD LOOK AT. WE SURVEYED PROPERTY OWNERS THROUGH THE 2024 PROTEST SEASON, AND THEN ALL THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF 24 AND 25 AND IT'S IT'S ALWAYS GREAT WHEN YOU CAN MEASURE SOME OF THESE, THESE CUSTOMER SERVICE TRENDS, BUT WHEN YOU CAN SEE YEAR OVER YEAR, AN IMPROVEMENT IN EVERY DEPARTMENT AND EVERY AREA THAT WE'RE MEASURING. THE STAFF IS DOING A FANTASTIC JOB. IT'S REALLY SHOWING THAT THEY'RE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS A FOCUS FOR THEM. SO WE DID RECEIVE MORE THAN 1800 SURVEYS IN 2025 AND AGAIN, ALL METRICS ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS SHOWED POSITIVE IMPROVEMENT IN 2025 SO FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE TWO QUESTIONS MY REPRESENTATIVE WAS PROFESSIONAL AND MY REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVE WAS KNOWLEDGEABLE. BOTH SAW AN INCREASE THE APPRAISAL DEPARTMENTS BEING PROFESSIONAL AND EXPLAINING THE PROCESS, THE PROCESS IN THEIR PROPERTY ALSO SAW A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM 24 TO 25 SOME GENERAL QUESTIONS, WAS MY INQUIRY RESOLVED? SAW A 2% INCREASE THERE THE WAIT TIME IF THEY WERE SATISFIED WITH HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET THEIR INQUIRY RESOLVED, THAT SAW A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, AND THEN SCHEDULING THE INFORMAL MEETING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PAIN POINT FOR PROPERTY OWNERS, SO WE ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THAT HAD AN IMPROVEMENT THERE ON THE EASE OF. WHICH THEY CAN SCHEDULE THAT INFORMAL MEETING, AND THEN HOW

[02:25:02]

EASY WAS IT TO ACCEPT THAT INFORMAL OFFER? ALSO SAW A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE. SO THE STAFF IS DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.

WE'VE REALLY TRIED, IN 2025 TO MAKE CUSTOMER SERVICE A FOCUS, AND THIS SHOWS THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE REALLY TAKING A HOLD OF THAT AND DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.

SHENGHAO WANG: QUICK QUESTION, IS, LIKE THE WEBSITE, AND IS IT THEY DO THROUGH THE PORTAL? IS THAT HOW LEANA MANN: THE INFORMAL MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED THROUGH THE PORTAL.

SHENGHAO WANG: AND I ASSUME WE HAVE SOME THIRD PARTY VENDOR THAT WE CAN TELL WE WANT TO MAKE THIS TWEAK OR THAT TWEAK ON THE WEBSITE, LEANA MANN: CORRECT SHENGHAO WANG: AND THIS IS ONLY I SEE THE ASTERICK. THIS IS ONLY THE STRONGLY AGREE, LEANA MANN: RIGHT SHENGHAO WANG: SO ACTUALLY, THERE'S SOME PERCENTAGE WHO AGREE, BUT ONLY REGULAR AGREE, OR WHATEVER. SO WE'RE NOT ONLY AT 50% IN TERMS OF GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THIS STATEMENT.

LEANA MANN: THAT'S CORRECT.

WE DO HAVE SOME UPCOMING IT MAINTENANCE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING. WE'LL START ON FRIDAY THE 19TH, ONCE THE OFFICE CLOSES AND IT WILL RUN THROUGH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23 SO WE WILL HAVE LIMITED IN PERSON OPERATIONS HERE AT THE OFFICE ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 22 AND TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23 WE WILL REMAIN FUNCTIONAL, AND OUR STAFF WORKING AT HOME WILL HAVE FULL FUNCTIONALITY TO OUR CAMERA SYSTEM AND OUR PHONE SYSTEM, JUST THINGS IN THE OFFICE WILL BE OFFLINE FOR A BIT. IF SOMEONE NEEDS IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE, THEY CAN EMAIL OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE GROUP AT CS INFO AT TCADCENTRAL.ORG, THEY CAN REACH US BY PHONE OR CHAT ON OUR ONLINE CHAT FUNCTION, AND THEN WE WILL BE CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY, THAT'S WEDNESDAY THE 24TH AND THURSDAY THE 25TH AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATIONS ON FRIDAY THE 26TH SHENGHAO WANG: QUICK QUESTION, DO WE HISTORICALLY SEE A LOT OF INCOMING? YEAH, OKAY, I WOULDN'T EXPECT, OH, LEANA MANN: IT'S USUALLY VERY QUIET, WHICH IS WHY WE WE PICKED THAT WEEKEND TO SCHEDULE THAT IT MAINTENANCE.

SHENGHAO WANG: I COULD SEE A WORLD IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO BEAT THE END OF THE YEAR DEADLINE OR WHATEVER, BUT I FIGURED RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS MIGHT NOT BE THAT TIME.

LEANA MANN: WE WILL HAVE A FEW STAFF MEMBERS AVAILABLE IN THE LAW LOBBY. IF SOMEBODY JUST SHOWS UP AND NEEDS ASSISTANCE.

THEY CAN ASK GENERAL QUESTIONS AND GET CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT WAY, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR MY REPORT.

JAMES VALADEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS ITEM 5K

[K. Discussion And Possible Action On Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Amendment As Presented To Taxing Entities On November 10, 2025]

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET? 25 BUDGET AMENDMENT HERE FROM KAT.

KAT HARVEY: GOOD AFTERNOON. EVERYBODY'S STILL AWAKE.

MICROPHONE, I'LL MOVE IT OKAY. I SAID, GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M GLAD EVERYBODY IS STILL AWAKE. SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE 2025, BUDGET AMENDMENT. SO OVER THE PAST DECADE, WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF LAWSUITS FILED, AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN THE VALUE UNDER LITIGATION. AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THE CHART, THAT'S A PRETTY STEEP INCREASE. SO ANNUAL LITIGATION EXPENDITURES FOR OUTSIDE ATTORNEYS AND FEES HAVE ALSO RISEN SHARPLY, SO FROM LESS THAN ABOUT 300,000 IN 2015 TO WELL OVER 2.4 MILLION IN 2023 SO WITH LITIGATION ACTIVITY REMAINING AT HISTORICALLY HIGH LEVELS, TRANSFERRING UNUSED BUDGET FUNDS INTO THE RESERVE FOR LITIGATION IS A CRUCIAL STEP IN ENSURING THAT THE DISTRICT CAN CONTINUE TO DEFEND VALUATIONS AND MAINTAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY IN VOLATILE LEGAL LANDSCAPE. THE DISTRICT PROVIDED NOTICE TO THE TAXING ENTITIES ON NOVEMBER 10 OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUESTING TO MOVE ANY SURPLUS FUNDS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET TO THE RESERVE FOR LITIGATION, AND WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE TAXING ENTITIES. HERE'S A CHART OF WHERE OUR CURRENT RESERVE BALANCES SIT AT THIS MOMENT, I LEANA MANN: AND AS A REMINDER, BACK IT'S PROBABLY BEEN SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS NOW, WE REALLY FOCUSED ON BUILDING UP THAT RESERVE FOR LITIGATION, AND IT CAME IN HANDY WHEN WE SAW THOSE HUGE INCREASES IN LITIGATION VOLUME, BUT WE HAVE DEPLETED SOME OF THOSE RESERVES, AND SO WE'RE JUST ASKING TO START REPLENISHING THOSE AGAIN, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE TAXING ENTITIES MID YEAR AND ASK FOR A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO COVER COST. WE HAVE SOME RESERVES THAT CAN HELP US WITH THAT.

SHENGHAO WANG: YEAH, AND I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR US TO DO THIS PREEMPTIVELY TO SHOW THAT LOOK, WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT DEFENDING YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU THINK ARE THE CORRECT APPRAISALS, IF IT COMES

[02:30:03]

TO THAT. SO WITH THAT SAID, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE 2025 BUDGET AMENDMENT AS PRESENTED TO THE TAXING ENTITIES ON NOVEMBER 10, 2025 JAMES VALADEZ: IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. WANG AND SECONDED BY MISS CARTWRIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION HEARING? HEARING NONE WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, KEN. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM

[L. Discussion And Possible Action On Contract For Professional Appraisal Services With Pritchard & Abbott, Inc.]

5L OF OUR REGULAR AGENDA, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL APPRAISAL SERVICES.

LEANA MANN: THANK YOU. 2501 ALLOWS THE CHIEF APPRAISER WITH THE BOARD TO APPOINT A THIRD PARTY APPRAISAL FIRM TO PROVIDE APPRAISAL SERVICES. TCAD HAS USED CAPITAL APPRAISAL GROUP FOR THESE SERVICES SINCE AT LEAST 2006 SO A VERY LONG TIME, WE FELT THAT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE HAD IN THE PAST. SO WE DECIDED TO GO OUT AND MEET WITH SOME OTHER VENDORS, GET BIDS FROM THEM. AND WE DID THAT THROUGHOUT THE LAST FEW MONTHS, MET MULTIPLE TIMES WITH DIFFERENT VENDORS TO DISCUSS NOT ONLY THEIR PROCESSES, BUT HOW THEY WILL CONFORM TO OUR PROCEDURES AND WHAT WE NEED FROM OUR THIRD PARTY APPRAISAL FIRM. WE MET WITH FOUR FIRMS, AND BASED ON THOSE INTERVIEWS, AS WELL AS THE COST, OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO CONTRACT WITH PRITCHARD AND ABBOTT FOR THE 2026 TAX YEAR, WE DO HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF PRITCHARD AND ABBOTT HERE TODAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MIGHT HAVE.

JAMES VALADEZ: MISS CARTWRIGHT.

DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: COULD MR. CRACK COME FORWARD? YEAH, FEELING. WELL, THE REST OF THE BOARD MAY NOT BE AS FAMILIAR WITH APPRAISAL FIRMS AS I AM, AND SO I THINK IT MIGHT BE NICE FOR YOU TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND APPROACH HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS, THE KIND OF WORKFORCE THAT YOU HAVE AND WHAT YOU SPECIALIZE IN. DO YOU MIND DOING THAT? RODNEY KRUT: NOT AT ALL. I'LL TRY TO GIVE YOU MY 32ND ELEVATOR PITCH, IT'S A REAL TREAT FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS RODNEY KRET - K-R-E-T, I'M WITH PRITCHARD AND ABBOTT INC. WE ARE A PRIVATELY HELD VALUATION AND IT CONSULTING FIRM BASED IN FORT WORTH TEXAS, WITH DISTRICT OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. WE WORK IN TEXAS PRIMARILY, BUT WE ALSO WORK IN OTHER STATES AS WELL. WE HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS IN LOUISIANA AND NEBRASKA, VIRGINIA, AND THAT'S ENOUGH FOR NOW. WE'VE WORKED IN SOME OTHERS, BUT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. THEY DON'T LET ME OUT OF THE OFFICE VERY OFTEN. I DID NOT WEAR A TIE TODAY. MR. JASON DRISKELL DID, HE'S PROFESSIONAL, BUT I DID WEAR AN ORANGE SHIRT. SO THAT SHOULD COUNT FOR SOMETHING IN AUSTIN. IT'S A GREAT IT'S, IT IS, YEAH, THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE I WOULD SAY IT'S ORANGE. ACTUALLY, 2025, IS PRITCHARD AND ABBOTT'S 100TH YEAR OF BEING IN BUSINESS, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. NOT MANY FIRMS CAN SAY THAT PERIOD IN ANY INDUSTRY THAT YOU'RE IN. SO THAT MEANS THAT THERE MUST BE A MARKET, AN ONGOING MARKET, STABLE MARKET, FOR WHAT WE DO. WHAT WE DO IS PROVIDE PRIMARILY EVALUATIONS TO OF WHAT'S CALLED COMPLEX PROPERTIES, HIGH DOLLAR, HIGH PROFILE PROPERTIES FALL INTO THAT MIX. WE'RE MOSTLY IN RURAL TEXAS, A LOT CENTERED ON THE OIL AND GAS WORLD, A LOT OF MINERAL INTEREST, UTILITIES, PIPELINES, FOR INSTANCE, AND AND ON THE GULF COAST, A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY ON THE GULF COAST, JASON CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, IF HE WANTS TO, HE THAT'S WHERE, THAT'S ONE OF HIS SPECIALTIES. I DON'T APPRAISE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY FOR A LIVING, BUT OF COURSE, I'M AN EXPERT IN IT. NOW, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF FIRST TIME HERE, OF BEING IN TRAVIS. THIS IS, THIS IS WHY I CAME HERE TODAY. I'VE NEVER BEEN TO TRAVIS COUNTY BOARD OR TRAVIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT AT ALL. SO IT IS A REAL TREAT, AND I HIGHLY APPRECIATE YOU ASKING US TO INTERVIEW AND ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT FOR ANYONE HERE, ALSO THESE HIGH DOLLAR PROPERTIES THAT WE APPRAISE, WE REALIZE IN OUR PROFESSION, AS ALL APPRAISAL DISTRICT PEOPLE SHOULD AND VENDORS WORKING FOR APPRAISAL DISTRICTS THAT THE TAXPAYERS ARE OUR ULTIMATE CUSTOMER OR CLIENT, IF YOU WANT TO SAY THAT THEY'RE THE ONES WHO PAY THE BILLS IN THE END. AND SO WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING WITH ALL THESE TAX AGENT FIRMS AND THESE CORPORATE FIRMS THAT HAVE THEIR OWN. HOUSE TAX DEPARTMENTS.

[02:35:01]

THAT'S WHAT WE DO FOR A LIVING. IT'S VERY COMPLICATED WORK IN SOME REGARDS. WE DON'T REALLY SHOW THAT ENOUGH TO OUR CLIENTS.

THEY IT JUST MAGICALLY GIVES. WE GIVE THE VALUES TO THEM. WE GO THROUGH ALL THE ARB HEARINGS, JUST LIKE YOUR FOLKS DO FOR THE FOR THE TYPES OF PROPERTIES OF THE LOCAL PROPERTIES, LOCALLY APPRAISED PROPERTIES, AND SOMETIMES TWO AND THREE ARB HEARINGS. WE ALSO ARE VERY INVOLVED IN IN MATTERS, ALL MATTERS OF PROPERTY TAX WORLD. OUR WEBSITE BANNER SAYS, LEADING THE WAY FORWARD. WE HAVE COMPETITORS. THERE ARE SOME OTHER APPRAISAL FARMS IN THE STATE. THERE'S A HANDFUL OF APPRAISAL FIRMS, BUT IN SOME, OR IN MANY RESPECTS, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY COMPETITORS, BECAUSE WE DO LITERALLY EVERYTHING RELATED TO PROPERTY TAX WORLD. WE'RE NOT JUST ON THE EVALUATION SIDE. WE'RE ON THE WE'RE ON THE SOFTWARE SIDE OF THE BUSINESS, ALL SORTS OF COLLECTION AND APPRAISAL SOFTWARE. WE DO ALL SORTS OF MAPPING. WE KIND OF DO EVERY WE JUST DO WE'LL EVEN MAN THE THE INTERIM CHIEF APPRAISERS, AND WE DO THAT.

WE'VE GOT SEVERAL OF THOSE CONTRACTS GOING RIGHT NOW ALSO.

SO WE'RE VERY INVOLVED. WE GET INVOLVED WITH ALL THE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. T, DOUBLE A, D, T, DOUBLE A, O, I, DOUBLE A, O, WE GIVE A LOT OF PRESENTATIONS, PUBLIC SPEAKING PRESENTATIONS. YOU COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT, I KNOW FROM TODAY, BUT I DO PROFESSIONALLY SPEAK AT TIMES. I'M GIVING A PRESENTATION AT PROPERTY TAX INSTITUTE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS ABOUT HB NINE, HOUSE BILL NINE, THAT AMENDED SECTION 11.145, ON PERSONAL PROPERTY APPRAISAL, BUSINESS, PERSONAL, PROPERTY APPRAISAL, WHICH WE, LET'S NOT, DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THAT RIGHT NOW, THE BRAVE NEW WORLD, THAT'S, THAT'S THE TITLE OF THAT PRESENTATION. WE HAVE, UNFORTUNATELY, A HEARD THE WORD LITIGATION TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE OF LITIGATION, THAT'S, I THINK, UNFORTUNATE.

LITIGATION IS NOT AN ACCIDENT OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM.

IT'S ACTUALLY A FEATURE BY THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX LEGISLATURE.

WE WILL DEFEND TO THE HILT ANY APPRAISALS THAT WE PERFORM THAT WE BELIEVE MEET THE DEFINITIONS OF FAIR MARKET VALUE IN THE TAX CODE AND HAVE BEEN DONE IN A UNIFORM MANNER. AND THOSE ARE THE TWO AREAS THAT LITIGATION FALLS UNDER. 20 YEARS AGO OR SO, I THINK A LOT OF LITIGATION THAT WE WERE INVOLVED IN HAD TO DO WITH WHETHER PROPERTY WAS EVEN TAXABLE OR NOT. THAT WAS A IS A WEIRD THING, BUT WE WERE JUST HAVING TO ESTABLISH PRINCIPLES OF WHAT PROPERTY GETS ON THE TAX ROLL NOWADAYS, IT SEEMS LIKE MOST LITIGATION IS MORE ORIENTED TOWARDS EMU, EQUITY AND UNIFORMITY, JUST THE WAY THESE CYCLES GO STRAIGHT UP, VALUATION CASES. YEAH, WE HAVE THOSE TOO, BUT THOSE SEEM TO BE NOT AS MANY AS IN THE END YOU SIDE. SO THAT'S, THAT'S WE'RE VERY AMENABLE TO GOING TO COURT. WE DON'T APPRAISE PROPERTY WITH THE IDEA THAT THAT WE'RE JUST AVOIDING COURT, BECAUSE THERE SOMETIMES ARE PRINCIPLES THAT YOU NEED TO STAND UP TO, EVEN IF IT'S GOING TO REALLY JUST FINANCIALLY COST US, BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY GET ANY MONEY. WE DON'T GET ANY ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR EVEN SERVING AS EXPERT WITNESS, WHICH I DO AT TIMES IN THE KINDS OF CASES THAT WE GO TO COURT ON. SO THAT'S REALLY ALL I WANTED TO SAY. THAT'S PROBABLY WAY TOO MUCH, BUT I APPRECIATE, AGAIN, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

JAMES VALADEZ: WE HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU FROM MISS CARTWRIGHT DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE QUALIFICATIONS OF YOUR APPRAISERS WHO WILL BE WORKING WITH PROPERTIES HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY? RODNEY KRUT: WELL, ALL OF OUR APPRAISERS ARE EITHER REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL APPRAISERS UNDER THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION, OR THEY ARE WORKING IN THAT REGARD, CLASS ONE, CLASS TWO, CLASS THREE. OR IS IT LEVEL OR CLASS? I THINK IT'S IT'S LEVEL, OKAY, I GOT MY RPA MANY YEARS AGO.

HAVEN'T TAKEN MANY COURSES SINCE THEN. WE HAVE ENGINEERS, ALL SORTS OF OTHER PROFESSIONALLY DEGREED PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR US, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT APPRAISAL FIRMS LIKE US ARE IN BUSINESS, BECAUSE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS DON'T TYPICALLY PUT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS, LIKE MY DEGREE IN ZEN OR OR OTHER TYPES OF PROFESSIONAL DEGREE PEOPLE ON THEIR STAFF, BECAUSE PROBABLY COULDN'T AFFORD US, QUITE FRANKLY. BUT HOW WE MAKE IT WORK IS THAT WE WORK FOR, IN THIS CASE, WELL OVER 100 APPRAISAL DISTRICTS, AND SO OUR COSTS ARE SPREAD OUT ACROSS A LARGE DATABASE, A POPULATION OF APPRAISAL DISTRICTS. AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A 90 FUN, SO TO SPEAK, BECAUSE PROPERTY TAX IS NO FUN, BUT IT IS A STABLE PROFESSION TO BE IN NOT MANY. ENGINEERS IN IT, BUT THE ONES THAT ARE GET TO HAVE A

[02:40:03]

LOT OF WORK FOR NO PAY. SO OUR LITTLE I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SAY THAT, BUT IT'S A IT'S A WEIRD BUSINESS TO BE, AND IT'S VERY STABLE, NOT VERY PROFITABLE, IF YOU'RE ON THE GOVERNMENT SIDE OF THE TABLE. THAT I USED TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE AT ONE POINT FOR A FEW YEARS, AND I FIGURED OUT THAT YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE KIND OF A NEGATIVE PERSON TO DO THAT WORK AS A TAX AGENT, ALWAYS POINTING OUT THE NEGATIVES. I DECIDED TO COME BACK TO PRITCHARD AND ABBOTT. I STARTED MY CAREER WITH PRITCHARD AND ABBOTT, 1983 SO ALL ACROSS THE BOARD, I THINK OUR APPRAISERS ARE TOP NOTCH, THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS. WE TRY TO HANG ON TO THEM AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, DOESN'T IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK OUT THAT WAY, BUT WE WE HAVE SOME THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME, INCLUDING MYSELF.

DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: ONE MORE COMMENT FOR YOU, WELL, AND YOU MENTIONED THIS, THAT THAT YOU DO EXPERT WITNESS TESTIMONY IN LITIGATION, AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. TO THIS BOARD, THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF OUR APPRAISAL FIRM IN LITIGATION MATTERS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

RODNEY KRUT: APPRECIATE THAT.

JAMES VALADEZ: MR. HANNA JETT HANNA: JUST A QUICK QUESTION, DO YOU ALL HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THINGS LIKE CHIP MANUFACTURING PLANTS AND OTHER HIGH TECH BUSINESSES MANUFACTURING, RODNEY KRUT: I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS YES. IS IT NOT? JASON? JASON DRISCOLL: YES, YES. VARIETY PROPERTIES THAT WE APPRAISE.

RODNEY KRUT: COME ON UP HERE.

JASON DRISCOLL: GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JASON DRISCOLL. I'M THE DISTRICT MANAGER FOR HOUSTON. THE SCOPE OF THE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES THAT THE HOUSTON DISTRICT APPRAISES IS THE LARGEST VARIETY OF ALL THE PROPERTIES THAT PUT YOUR NET PRAISES AS A WHOLE. BECAUSE OF OUR LOCATION ALONG THE GULF COAST, WE HAVE A LARGE VARIETY OF PROPERTIES. AND SO THE FOR ME, THE FAMILIARITY WITH THE TYPES OF PROPERTIES THAT WE WILL BE APPRAISING HERE IN TRAVIS CAD WE DO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO APPRAISE THOSE.

JAMES VALADEZ: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SHENGHAO WANG: YEAH, A COUPLE FROM ME. SO I SEE THIS RATHER EXTENSIVE LIST OF PROPERTIES THAT Y'ALL HAVE APPRAISED. AND I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THESE ARE PROPERTIES YOU APPRAISE ON BEHALF OF THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS IN OKAY, CORRECT? RODNEY KRUT: THOSE ARE ALL. THOSE ARE JUST THE HOUSTON DISTRICT. SO THEY'RE MULTIPLES, BUT YES.

SHENGHAO WANG: AND SECONDLY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THE APPRAISAL SERVICE. SO Y'ALL WILL DO THE INITIAL APPRAISAL FOR THE, YOU KNOW, APRIL, OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, NOTICE APPRAISED VALUE, AND THEN INCLUDED IN THE 150,000 IS THE, YOU KNOW, SHOWING UP TO ARB HEARINGS AND ANY POTENTIAL LITIGATION. THAT'S ALL ALL BAKED. IT'S ALL PART OF THE, WHAT THE $150,000 RODNEY KRUT: YES, SHENGHAO WANG: OKAY, AND THEN, AND MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION FOR LEANA, LIKE, WHAT? WHAT'S THE BALLPARK NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT BE LIKE THAT ARE IN THE INDUSTRIAL CATEGORY HERE IN LEANA MANN: SO THE BULK OF OUR CONTRACT IS BPP ACCOUNTS. SO IT'S ABOUT 900 PERSONAL PROPERTY ACCOUNTS. THERE ARE ABOUT 12 COMMERCIAL REAL PROPERTY ACCOUNTS THAT ARE ALSO IN THAT CONTRACT.

SHENGHAO WANG: SO THOSE ARE LIKE THE SUIT. THOSE ARE LIKE THE MASSIVE, MASSIVE, RIGHT. OKAY, AND I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM, I SUSPECT THAT YOU KNOW, THEM BEING HERE TODAY MEANS THAT THE DISTRICT AND THE CONTRACTS COMMITTEE HAS GENERALLY APPROVED THE THIS, THIS, THIS CONTRACT.

DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: THE CONTRACTS COMMITTEE HAS NOT LOOKED AT THE CONTRACT WE AND MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE STATUTE IS WRITTEN, IT AUTHORIZES THE CHIEF APPRAISER TO ACQUIRE THE SERVICES OF APPRAISAL FIRMS WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE APPRAISAL WITH OF THE BOARD DIRECTORS. AND SO WE HAVE NOT, HOWEVER IT'S HERE, AND OKAY, IF YOU'VE LOOKED AT IT, LEANA MANN: THEIR PROPOSAL IS PROVIDED, BUT WE WILL HAVE OUR STANDARD TERMS THAT WE NEGOTIATE WITH THE VENDOR ONCE, AND WE CAN ALSO INCLUDE THE CONTRACT COMMITTEE IN THOSE.

SHENGHAO WANG: WELL, NO, I MEAN, I'M NOT. I JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST DOING THE CHECKING THE BOXES, MAKING SURE WE'VE DONE OUR HOMEWORK, BUT, BUT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS? LEANA MANN: YES, THEY WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION.

SHENGHAO WANG: OKAY. I THINK THAT'S IT FOR ME. THEN THANK YOU.

JAMES VALADEZ: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: MR. CHAIRMAN, MAY I MAKE A MOTION? JAMES VALADEZ: YES, MA'AM, DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I'VE CHANGED THE LANGUAGE OF THE MOTION A LITTLE BIT. I MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CHIEF APPRAISER TO ACQUIRE THE PROFESSIONAL APPRAISAL SERVICES FROM PRITCHARD AND ABBOTT INC FOR THE 2026 TAX YEAR.

JAMES VALADEZ: IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MISS CARTWRIGHT. SECONDED BY MR. WANG, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

[02:45:03]

LEANA MANN: IT IS A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.

JAMES VALADEZ: NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT. WE WILL NOW TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED, THAT PASSES.

THAT NOW PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. WE WILL

[M. Discussion And Possible Action On Rfp 2025-01: Request For Proposals For Construction Manager At Risk Services]

NOW MOVE FORWARD IN OUR REGULAR AGENDA TO 5M WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON RFP 2025, DASH, OH, ONE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER RISK SERVICES.

KAT HARVEY: SO IN THE 2026 BUDGET, WE HAD A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO FINISH OUT OUR THIRD FLOOR. SO WE SUBMITTED A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK FOR GOVERNMENT CODE 2269 FOR THE THIRD FLOOR FINISH OUT. IT'S COMPLETED TEMPORARY FINISHES DURING THE ORIGINAL RENOVATIONS, LIKE DRYWALL, PAINT, CARPET, ETC, BUT THE SCOPE WOULD INCLUDE ADDITIONAL WALLS AND FURNISHINGS. WE POSTED THE RFP ON OUR WEBSITE ON NOVEMBER 20. IT WAS POSTED IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN ON NOVEMBER 24 AND DECEMBER 1. AND THE RFP CLOSED ON DECEMBER 8. WE RECEIVED FOUR RESPONSES FROM AZTECA BALFOUR, BEATTY LOVEJOY AND TRIM BUILT AND WE SCOPED OUT THE WEIGHT OF EACH CANDIDATE, AND FOR THE CMR FEE AND PRE CONSTRUCTION COSTS, THE DISTRICT RECOMMENDS CONTRACTING WITH BALFOUR BEATTY CONSTRUCTION BASED ON THE LOWEST OVERALL COST, STRONGEST EXPERIENCE, REPUTATION AND THEIR PROVEN PRIOR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT.

JAMES VALADEZ: LOOKS LIKE A QUESTION FROM MR. WANG.

SHENGHAO WANG: YEAH, JUST A REALLY QUICK QUESTION FOR MY EDIFICATION, LOOKING AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE, 201 FOR THE SEA MARFIE AND PRE CONSTRUCTION COSTS. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE'S A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE. WELL, JUST BALLPARK. WHAT'S THE WHAT DO WE THINK IS THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROJECT? LEANA MANN: IT'LL BE UNDER 100,000 I THINK HOWEVER, THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK PROCESS. THEY PROPOSE A FEE, PERCENTAGE FEE OF WHATEVER THE COST IS. SO ONCE WE PICK WHO THE MANAGER WILL BE, THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF BIDDING OUT THE WORK, FIGURING OUT THE ACTUAL BUDGET FOR THE PROJECT.

SHENGHAO WANG: SO THEY'RE LIKE THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR, LEANA MANN: YES.

SHENGHAO WANG: OKAY, I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED THAT THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 50 POINTS AND SIX POINTS BETWEEN BALFOUR BEATTY AND TRIM BUILT. I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IT CHANGES THE FINAL DECISION, BUT I GUESS THE PRE CONSTRUCTION COST IS A FAIR, FAIR DIFFERENCE, BUT THAT'S MORE OF MY PERSONAL CURIOSITY I CAN ASK YOU ABOUT AFTERWARDS, BUT NO NO QUESTIONS FOR ME IN TERMS OF MAKING A DECISION. THANK YOU.

JAMES VALADEZ: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, AND WE WILL NEED ACTION ON THIS ITEM TODAY. YES, PLEASE.

SHENGHAO WANG: I MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE AND CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK SERVICES WITH BALFOUR BEATTY CONSTRUCTION. I ALSO MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE CHIEF APPRAISER TO NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

JAMES VALADEZ: IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. WANG, SECONDED BY MR. HANNA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, ALL THOSE OPPOSED, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, KAT, THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO

[N. Discussion And Possible Action On Contract Extension With Just Appraised Inc. For Saas Services For Deed And Exemption Processing]

ITEM 5N, OF OUR REGULAR AGENDA, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH JUST APPRAISED INC.

LEANA MANN: THANK YOU. SO WE BEGAN CONTRACTING WITH JUST APPRAISED BACK IN 2019 AND TO START WE DID A DEED PROCESSING AUTOMATION CONTRACT WITH THEM. THEY WERE BACK THEN, FRESH OUT OF STANFORD, AND BUILT THIS PRODUCT THAT APPRAISAL DISTRICTS DESPERATELY NEEDED. WE WERE ONE OF THEIR FIRST CUSTOMERS, AND WE'VE BEEN IN CONTRACT WITH THEM SINCE THEN, THEY'VE MADE A LOT OF ENHANCEMENTS TO THAT PRODUCT. SO THIS IS THE ANNUAL RENEWAL FOR THAT DEED AUTOMATION PROJECT. THEY TAKE ALL OF THE DEEDS FROM THE COUNTY CLERK'S WEBSITE. THEY USE A MIXTURE OF OCR AND AI TO READ THE DOCUMENTS AND PULL OUT THOSE PARTS OF ALL THE DEEDS THAT ARE PERTINENT TO APPRAISAL DISTRICTS. THE SECOND CONTRACT WE SIGNED WITH JUST APPRAISED WAS IN 2020 AND THAT IS FOR OUR ONLINE EXEMPTION APPLICATION. AND SO THIS IS JUST THE RENEWAL FOR THAT PRODUCT. BOTH RENEWALS ARE PROPOSED. A 5% INCREASE IN THE TOTAL COST OF THE CONTRACTS WOULD BE $160,650

[02:50:11]

JAMES VALADEZ: MISS CARTWRIGHTME DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: I'M NOT QUESTIONING THESE CONTRACTS, BUT I AM CURIOUS WHETHER WE COULD DO THIS IN HOUSE.

LEANA MANN: WE COULD DO IT IN HOUSE, AND WE DID FOR MANY YEARS. IT'S AN AUTOMATION AND EFFICIENCY ASPECT, WHERE THESE DEEDS ARE READ, AND IT PULLS OUT THE OWNER NAME, THE ANY CONSIDERATION THAT WAS GIVEN, THE PROPERTY ADDRESSES, AND IT POPULATES IT TO WHERE WE CAN REVIEW AND THEN PUSH IT INTO OUR CANVAS SYSTEM SO THERE'S NO DATA ENTRY WHICH LIMITS ERRORS IN TYPING IN A NAME OR AN ADDRESS. SO IT'S REALLY MORE OF AN EFFICIENCY THAT WE'RE GAINING WITH THIS CONTRACT.

DEBORAH CARTWRIGHT: SO YOU DON'T THINK THAT WE COULD DEVELOP IT WITHIN OUR CANVA SYSTEM, AND YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT THE DATA ENTRY IS REALLY THE COST ISSUE.

LEANA MANN: WE COULD DEVELOP THE SAME SYSTEM, IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE US FOUR OR FIVE YEARS BEFORE OUR CAMERA VENDOR COULD DO IT.

SHENGHAO WANG: AND THEN, JUST FOR MY BALLPARK, HOW MANY FTES OR HOURS DO YOU THINK THIS REPLACES, IN TERMS OF NOT INDIVIDUALS OR HUMANS, NOT HAVING TO TYPE ALL THAT STUFF.

LEANA MANN: AND IT'S BEEN MANY YEARS SINCE I LOOKED AT THIS, BUT WHEN I FIRST STARTED, WE HAD A GIS DEPARTMENT WHO IS, THAT'S, WHO HANDLES THE DEEDS OF ABOUT 14 OR 15 EMPLOYEES, AND WE HAVE SIX, SIX EMPLOYEES NOW, SHENGHAO WANG: OKAY, SO I MEAN, I SUSPECT THIS IS NOT SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT, BUT I THINK THE ROI IS CLEARLY THERE.

OKAY, NO QUESTION. NO FURTHER FROM ME.

JAMES VALADEZ: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

SHENGHAO WANG: I MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE AND CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH JUST APPRAISED INC, FOR DEED AND EXEMPTION PROCESSING AUTOMATION FOR THE 2026 TAX YEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $160,650 JAMES VALADEZ: IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. WANG, SECONDED BY MISS GARCIA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 5O OF OUR REGULAR

[O. Discussion And Possible Action On Contract With Just Appraised Inc. For Saas Front Desk Services To Centralize Inbound Communications, Including Email And Online Chat]

AGENDA, WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CONTRACT WITH JUST APPRAISED INC FOR SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE. FRONT DESK SERVICES TO CENTRALIZED INBOUND COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING EMAIL AND ONLINE CHAT.

LEANA MANN: THANK YOU. THIS IS A NEW SERVICE THAT JUST APPRAISED HAS DEVELOPED, AND WE SPENT THE LAST MONTH REVIEWING WAYS THAT WE COULD BE MORE EFFICIENT IN OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE PROCESSES.

LIKE I'VE SAID DURING THIS MEETING, WE REALLY TRIED TO FOCUS ON CUSTOMER SERVICE IN 2025 AND ONE AREA THAT WE COULD IMPROVE ON IS OUR INBOUND COMMUNICATIONS. WE GET 1000S OF CALLS, 1000S OF EMAILS, CHATS, AND EVERY TIME SOMEONE ANSWERS THE PHONE OR ANSWERS AN EMAIL, IT'S A DIFFERENT EMPLOYEE. SO YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET A CONSISTENT MESSAGE. YOU DON'T SEE A HISTORICAL DASHBOARD OF WHAT THAT PROPERTY OWNER HAS CALLED IN ABOUT BEFORE TO KNOW WHAT INFORMATION THEY'VE GOTTEN.

AND SO THIS SERVICE, IT'S CALLED FRONT DESK. IT USES AI ON OUR SIDE, NOT THE TAXPAYER SIDE, TO ASSIST OUR STAFF TO SEE SOME OF THOSE HISTORICAL TRENDS. SO WHEN A PROPERTY OWNER CALLS IN, IT'LL PULL IN THEIR HISTORICAL INFORMATION TO SHOW US HOW MANY TIMES THEY'VE CALLED, WHAT PERSON ANSWERED THE CALLS? WHAT WERE THEIR QUESTIONS? WHAT ANSWERS WERE GIVEN? IT'LL ALSO DO THE SAME THING FOR EMAIL. FOR EMAIL, IT CAN ALSO GO AS FAR AS WE CAN GIVE IT CANNED RESPONSES TO GENERAL QUESTIONS THAT WE GET PRETTY ROUTINELY, AND IT WILL DRAFT THE RESPONSE FOR THE STAFF MEMBER. IT'LL SIT THERE IN THE OUTBOX. IT WILL NOT SEND IT DIRECTLY TO THE PROPERTY OWNER STAFF OWN STAFF MEMBER REVIEWS IT AND THEN CAN SEND THAT EMAIL. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN GET SOME QUICKER RESPONSE TIMES TO PROPERTY OWNERS. IT ALSO ENSURES THAT THERE'S NO LOST REQUEST. I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES THAT EMAILS COME IN THEY, I MEAN, IT'S IT'S EMAIL, IT'S MICROSOFT. SO SOMETIMES THEY DON'T MAKE IT TO US, SOMETIMES THEY GO INTO A FOLDER, OR SOMEBODY ACTUALLY ACCIDENTALLY HITS DELETE. THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN. THIS ENSURES THAT YOU GET A FULL TRAIL OF THAT COMMUNICATION WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER. AND THEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST BENEFITS I THINK WE'LL GAIN IS THAT CONTINUITY OF OUR MESSAGING AND REALLY HAVING THE ABILITY TO SEE THAT OUR MESSAGES ARE GOING IN A CONSISTENT MANNER TO THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THEY'RE GETTING. ACCURATE INFORMATION. SO THE TOTAL COST OF THIS