My wife's chickens are official taxpayers

[Mike Costello]

I went to a property tax valuation arbitration hearing this past summer and was greeted by picture after picture of my place. Some were from the air, others were from standing right in the front "yard". Some with both cars present, meaning I was not at work and was there - never knew they showed up.

These !@#$!@#$ think they can do whatever whenever they feel like it, including trespassing and taking pictures without even telling you they are there.

This really hacks me off and I consider it a breach of privacy. It was made very clear at the beginning of the arbitration process that any criticism of the appraisal district including their means of gathering information about "their" property would NOT tolerated. So, you reach around you ankles and take it in behind.

Bottom line is, none of us here in Texas actually "own" anything. We have to pay about 2.5 - 3% of the value to the king every year to keep it.

I'd be voting those fools out of office. That kind of arrogance is exactly why this country fought for it's independence.

 

[dcyrilc]

I went to a property tax valuation arbitration hearing this past summer and was greeted by picture after picture of my place. Some were from the air, others were from standing right in the front "yard". Some with both cars present, meaning I was not at work and was there - never knew they showed up.

These !@#$!@#$ think they can do whatever whenever they feel like it, including trespassing and taking pictures without even telling you they are there.

This really hacks me off and I consider it a breach of privacy. It was made very clear at the beginning of the arbitration process that any criticism of the appraisal district including their means of gathering information about "their" property would NOT tolerated. So, you reach around you ankles and take it in behind.

Bottom line is, none of us here in Texas actually "own" anything. We have to pay about 2.5 - 3% of the value to the king every year to keep it.

If your place is properly posted, then the appropriate response (IMO) would be to file a criminal tresspass lawsuit and supeonia their photos as evidence. They might very well back off to avoid prossecution.

I had an issue with CPS a few years back where a woman came to my door and insisted that I had to let her in to inspect my house. When I asked what it was concerning, she stated that she couldn't tell me but that I had to let her in to inspect. When I refused, she threatened to call the county sherriff. My response was to take out my cell phone and inform her that she was on private property and needed to leave or I would be the one calling the sherriff to have her removed. She proceeded to tell me that I wasn't going to stop her from conducting her investigation. I told her that she could investigate what ever she wanted and that I really didn't care, but she wasn't coming in my house without telling me why or showing a court ordered search warrent. I followed that by informing her that she was not to return without a search warrent or I would press charges for criminal tresspass and harrassment. That was two years ago and I still have no idea what it was about and she has never returned.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

unfortunately the supreme court ruled recently that unless your property is fenced, gated, and has no tresspassing signs, you have no expectation of privacy.

 

[madpogue]

unfortunately the supreme court ruled recently that unless your property is fenced, gated, and has no tresspassing signs, you have no expectation of privacy.

Case?

 

[not2old]

If we had to pay taxes here on personal property, I'd have a lot fewer toys. Maybe that's why our income taxes are so much higher. Our property taxes here are based on the resale value. I pay taxes on my house and one acre based on the $485,000.00 I paid for it. I got the assessor to lower the assessment from $635,000.00 even though I admitted that was what it probably cost the original owner.

 

[Loren49]

I believe that without the fence, etc. that they can't be charged for simply being on your land. Once you tell them to leave your property they can be charged if they refuse. I'm assuming they do not have a search warrant and are not police officers with proper authority. (ex. pursuing a suspect who they saw entering your property)

This site references some Supreme Court Decisions so should apply to all
Volume 9 - Opinions of Counsel SBEA No. 4

"Assessor (powers and duties) (entry upon real property)由eal Property Tax Law, ｧｧ500,501:

An assessor should not enter on private property and take measurements or photographs without first securing the permission of the land owner"

My understanding is that you can keep an assessor from entering your property - that can result in them estimating the size of your structures and the way they are finished off. They will likely estimate on the high side. If you want to challenge the assessment they will want to see the property.

Example - our Town went to 100% valuation last year.(we were at 43% so average assessment was multiplied by 2.3) A number of people spoke with the assessor prior to grievance day to ask for adjustments (including me - and he was very reasonable to work with) On grievance day 3 people came. One was to correct a measurement error, one had his assessment reduced to a point that he was satisfied and one was completely unreasonable. He refused to allow the assessor look inside hes house - the assessor valued it at average construction - owner claimed it was far below that and insulted the board and the assessor. House sure looks average from the outside. (House, old barn, garage and about 15 acres valued at about $90,000)

Loren
Loren