Hays Appraisal Review Board Staff and Pay
The Hays County appraisal review board (ARB) are busy beavers for sure. With only a staff of eight in 2024, they heard 11,000 formal appeals over 69 days. The organization sided with the taxpayer over the Hays Central Appraisal District (Hays CAD) 78% of the time, bringing home a savings of $32.44 million to the people of the county. With a budget of $240,000, the ARB certainly paid for itself. Get in on these historic property tax savings when you join O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program™ today. O’Connor will automatically protest your taxes every year, taking the appeal to the highest type necessary. There are no hidden fees or upfront costs, and you will only pay if your property taxes are lowered. Enroll, relax, and save.
Total Number of ARB Members - Hays CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| ARB Members | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Total Number | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| New ARB Members | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Returning ARB Members | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since The appraisal district can’t possibly accurately value all the properties in the county. They need your help to correct over-valuation.
Hays County Appraisal Review Board (ARB)
Thanks to the combination of mammoth growth and aggressiveness by the Hays County Central Appraisal District (Hays CAD), property tax protests across the county have never been higher. With over one-third of all properties being protested as of 2024, all appeal mechanisms need to be functioning properly. One of the key components of this is the appraisal review board (ARB), which referees formal appeals between taxpayers and Hays CAD. There were 11,000 formal appeals in 2024, with 78% of them finding a reduction for the taxpayer.
With property values and taxes quadrupling in the past decade, there has never been a more important time to launch a property tax protest. O’Connor is the perfect partner to have with you on this journey, as they have been fighting for the rights of Texans for over 50 years. One of the most expansive property tax consulting companies in the nation, O’Connor has the people, assets, and skills needed to get you the best deal on your tax appeal.
Hays County ARB Members
With so much on their shoulders, it is surprising to learn that the ARB had only 10 members in 2023. Even more surprising, these 10 members were the most the board has seen in history, being the first time that membership crossed into the double digits. This total fell to eight in 2024, as there was an influx of four new members, while only four previous ones were retained. This was the first time that the board lost members instead of adding them since 2019. Each board is composed of three experts, meaning that there were two alternates.
How Many Days did ARB Hold Hearings in Hays County?Source: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Days of ARB Hearings | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Days of ARB hearings | 38 | 60 | 55 | 57 | 57 | 79 | 129 | 158 | 98 | 93 | 69 |
Texas property owners should protest annually To avoid a surprise-increase in property taxes. This happens when the notice of value was lost. A large error in a home value is difficult to fix if not corrected through the normal appeal process.
Hays County Days with an ARB Hearing
With such tiny numbers, the organization must work overtime to service the ever-growing needs of the county. The board meets until every appeal is heard, which could easily take weeks or months. In 2024, the group met for 69 days. This was down from 93 days in 2024 and 98 days in 2021. The number of days is surprising, considering the roster cuts, but the drop in formal appeals filed gave the system a break. This could easily be ramped back up.
ARB CompensationSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Per Diem Rate | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Lowest per diem to ARB | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $175 |
| Median per diem to ARB | $138 | $137 | $138 | $138 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $150 | $150 | $175 | $175 |
| Highest per diem to ARB | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $180 | $180 | $200 | $200 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Texas property taxes are the largest tax payment for many Texans.
ARB Compensation
The entire ARB for 2024 was compensated with a grand total of $89,293. This made them one of the most cost-effective boards in Texas. The highest pay per diem was $200, the lowest was $175, while the median pay was $175. Considering they heard 11,000 formal appeals and sided with taxpayers 78% of the time, $89,293 seems like a bargain for the people of the county.