Hays Central Appraisal District Budgets Total was $5 Million in 2023
The Hays Central Appraisal District (Hays CAD) is meant to represent the interests of taxing entities. These entities include MUDs, school districts, and the governments of cities, towns, and the county itself. Property taxes across Hays County have quadrupled since 2014, leaving many longtime residents in danger of losing their properties. With only 26 appraisers for all of Hays County, there is no way of knowing if these tax assessments are accurate, and only a property tax protest can set the record straight. Join O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program(TM) today and be guaranteed that your taxes will be professionally protested annually. You will never suffer an upfront cost or hidden fee, and you will never pay unless your property taxes are lowered. Enroll, relax, and save.
Total 2018 CAD Budget Including ARBSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Millions of $ | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Total Budget | 2.656 | 2.687 | 2.823 | 2.989 | 3.127 | 3.494 | 3.918 | 4.295 | 4.359 | 5.058 | 5.869 | |
| ARB Operations Budget | 0.0250 | 0.0280 | 0.0280 | 0.0383 | 0.0460 | 0.0500 | 0.0650 | 0.1290 | 0.1390 | 0.200 | 0.240 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since YOU can spend YOUR money better than the government.
Hays County CAD Operations and Budgets
The Hays County Central Appraisal District (Hays CAD) like all other Texas appraisal districts, is both a boon and a curse for residents of Hays County. Since Texas has no income tax to raise money for school districts, MUDs, or basic local governance, property taxes are used to secure the majority of funding. When working correctly, Hays CAD provides a key service to the people of the county. The problem is when Hays CAD cannot correctly do these duties, leaving taxpayers swinging in the wind when it comes to inaccurate property taxes.
Property tax protests were enshrined in the Texas Constitution as a way to help keep CADs honest. They are the only taxes a Texan can protest after all. The journey to fair taxes through protests can be a hard one, but you can have a strong ally in O’Connor. O’Connor was founded on the principles of protecting Texans from overly aggressive taxation. Over 50 years, O’Connor has grown to be one of the biggest property tax consulting firms in America and now brings this passion to states across the USA.
Hays CAD Total CAD Budget Including ARB
As of 2023, the budget for Hays CAD was $5.06 million. This budget has steadily increased each year in an effort to keep up with changes and growth throughout Hays County. Hays CAD seems to have adjusted better than similar counties, which either have not budgeted for growth, or had a giant spike in 2021 or later. The budget has nearly doubled in the past decade, with an increase every year. The appraisal review board (ARB) is funded from the same budget. While the ARB has also been receiving more funds every year, it is at a glacial pace. The ARB budget in 2023 was only $200,000.
Total Property Taxes Levied Hays CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Billions of $ | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Property Taxes Levied | 0.2942 | 0.3568 | 0.3561 | 0.4021 | 0.5036 | 0.5509 | 0.709 | 0.6562 | 0.7956 | 1.2241 | 0.7977 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Appealing annually helps the appraisal district avoid over-taxing a property for both market value and unequal appraisal.
Hays County Total Amount of Property Taxes Levied
The main reason for over 34% of Hays County residents protesting their taxes every year is because property values and taxes have gone through a meteoric rise in the past decade. Between 2014 and 2023, property taxes levied increased 316.077%, one of the starkest jumps in Texas. Some of this is due to an influx of people and new construction, but the other factor is the increasing value of existing properties. While that might make Hays County a seller’s dream, it is also a nightmare for longtime residents that wish to keep their homes or businesses. This is where gentrification starts, and it has already begun to have a transformative effect on Hays County.
FTE Positions In Budget Total - Hays CADSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| FTEs | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Total Number of FTEs | 35 | 35 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 41 | 43 | 48 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Valuation is a subjective matter where reasonable people can differ.
FTE Positions in the Total Budget
All CADs attempt to run on minimal personnel and Hays CAD is no exception. As of 2023, Hays CAD had only 43 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. These 43 individuals have a myriad of responsibilities, not just appraising. 2023 was the largest number of FTEs that Hays CAD has ever had, with numbers usually stuck in the 30s for the past decade.
FTEs Assigned to the Appraisal - Hays CADSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| FTEs | ||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| FTEs Appraisal Total | 16 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 26 | 19 | |
| Residential | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | |
| Commercial | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 4 | |
| All Other | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 4 | |
Texas property owners should protest annually since It is a great way to slow the growth of government spending (of your money).
Hays CAD FTEs Assigned to the Property Appraisal
The low number of FTEs comes down even further when it is revealed that only 26 of them are appraisers. The 18 remaining FTEs work in clerical and other positions. 12 appraisers worked residential properties, seven commercial, and seven on all the remaining types. This tiny workforce means that Hays CAD must cut corners to meet all of their obligations, leading to incorrect valuations. This is why property tax protests are so successful in Hays County, as these numbers are easily fixed when given a second glance.