Missing houses spur DCAD meeting

There’s more than meets the eye behind the city’s upcoming Property Tax 101 Workshop.

The City of Farmers Branch announced the March 6 workshop as a cooperative endeavor between the Dallas County Appraisal District (DCAD) and the Dallas County Tax Office.

Dallas County Tax Assessor/Collector John R. Ames is scheduled to attend.

City Councilmember Tina Bennett-Burton formally requested the property tax meeting though this is technically not a city nor city council meeting.

“DCAD says they do this for any city in Dallas County,” said City Secretary Stacy Henderson.

However, based upon a news tip, the Branch Herald requested all email communication between Farmers Branch City Council and city staff between Dec. 1, 2024, and Jan. 15, 2025, about the Dallas County Appraisal District.

Records indicate that Bennett-Burton was looking into how tax assessments work in regard to the Demo/Rebuild program and, in her investigation, found that some new homes in the city had not been properly recorded in the DCAD database.

In a letter to Cody Vaden, district director at the U.S. House of Representatives; U.S. Congresswoman Julie Johnson; Texas Representative Rafael Anchía; U.S. Senator Ted Cruz; Texas Representative Cassandra Hernandez; Texas Senator Tan Parker; and Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District Superintendent Wendy Eldredge, which was copied to City Manager Ben Williamson, Bennett-Burton wrote, “During the investigation, it was discovered that one of the new homes couldn't be located on the DCAD (Dallas Central Appraisal District) database. While the land was listed, the home, which is at least two years old and occupied, was not. Further investigation revealed that DCAD had incorrect address information and was unaware the home existed. This scenario has played out on more than one property.”

In her letter, Bennett-Burton wrote that her analysis of recent land and home improvements showed inconsistencies across the city and requested Williamson to request a clinic with DCAD for city residents.

In January, the Branch Herald independently verified Bennett-Burton’s concerns for residential property and found four properties with houses not on DCAD’s database.

Williamson forwarded Bennett-Burton’s letter to Chief Appraiser and Executive Director of DCAD Shane Docherty, who responded saying that DCAD is investigating how building permits from Farmers Branch have been received or processed by DCAD. He requested all new construction permits from Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2024.

Those who own property, either residential or commercial, in Farmers Branch should attend this meeting.

According to the city, representatives from both DCAD and the Dallas County Tax office will be available to speak to property owners about the Texas property tax system, how and when to protest property valuations and how and when to pay property taxes.

Ames wrote to Williamson that the joint presentation is about an hour long and that they answer general questions. He asked that if property owners have questions specific to a property that someone can assist them after the meeting or have someone reach out to them.

The Branch Herald will cover the meeting as well as livestream it on Facebook.