If your property value has increased in the last year, you should soon receive a notice of your 2008 appraised value from the Blanco County Appraisal District. About 6,200 notices were mailed on May 1, 2008. Your city, county, school district and other local taxing units will use the appraisal district’s value to set your 2008 property taxes.

State law requires county appraisal districts to notify property owners about changes in their property’s value. The notice also contains important information about the property’s location, its ownership, and property tax exemptions that have been applied to the property. It may include an estimate of 2008 taxes by local taxing units.

Property owners who disagree with the appraised value of their property, the exemptions or any other action by the appraisal district have the right to appeal to the Blanco County Appraisal Review Board (ARB). The ARB is an independent panel of citizens responsible for hearing and settling property owner protests. The notice of appraised value includes instructions on how and when to file a protest and a protest form. The deadline for filing a protest with the ARB is May 31 or 30 days after the appraisal district mailed you a notice of appraised value, whichever is later.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs’ publication, Texas Property Taxpayer’s Remedies, explains in detail how to protest your property appraisal, what issues the ARB can consider and what to expect during a protest hearing. The publication also discusses the option of taking your case to court or entering into binding arbitration if you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your ARB hearing.

Texas Property Taxpayer’s Remedies is available from the Blanco County Appraisal District located at 200 N. Ave G, Johnson City, Texas 78636. The publication is also available on the state Comptroller’s Web site at www.window.state.tx.us