Tarrant County Sets Standard in Appraisal Board Practices

FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Rick Barnes, elected in January 2025 as Chairman of the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) Board, has delivered on his promise to bring efficiency, fairness, and transparency to the appraisal process. Results from the 2025 appraisal cycle demonstrate significant improvements in taxpayer service, cost savings, and valuation accuracy.

Lower Costs and Leaner Budget

Under Barnes’ leadership, rates charged to taxing entities have decreased, and the TAD budget has been reduced, keeping more resources with schools, cities, and county services.

Appraisal Freeze Delivered Accuracy and Stability

The 2024 appraisal freeze performed exactly as intended. Concerns about inaccurate data or inflated tax bills in a declining housing market proved unfounded. Updated Property Value Study ratios show TAD valuations remained accurate and fair across all 17 school districts.

Better Service for Taxpayers

Key improvements for 2025 include:

• Six minute average wait time for taxpayer services.
• 50 percent fewer hearings compared to prior years.
• 95 percent certification achieved by July 11, with all hearings completed by July 17.
• Increased online resolutions, reducing in-person disputes and improving efficiency.

Balanced Valuations

Taxable values rose a modest three percent countywide. Cities, the county, and special districts saw an average increase of five percent, while school districts averaged a two percent decrease due to the homestead exemption increase to $140,000. Net taxable value increased from $286.5 billion in 2024 to $297.2 billion in 2025.

Recognizing School Funding Challenges

Barnes emphasized that while the appraisal freeze succeeded, Texas school districts face ongoing financial pressure due to a flawed state funding system. He noted that some districts initially projected funding losses under the freeze, but final certified data showed those same districts received increased funding, disproving the doomsday scenarios circulated by some earlier in the year.

Streamlined Protest Process

In 2025, TAD efficiently managed 228,224 residential protests. More cases were resolved informally, and Appraisal Review Board hearings moved faster and more efficiently than in prior years.

Setting the Standard for Texas

“These results prove that with transparency, efficiency, and a focus on taxpayers, we can run an appraisal district that works for everyone,” Barnes said. “Tarrant County is setting a model for appraisal practices statewide.”

By the Numbers – 2025 TAD Results

• Rates to taxing entities: Down
• TAD Budget: Down
• Average Wait Time: Six minutes
• Hearings: 50 percent fewer than prior years
• Certification: 95 percent by July 11; hearings done by July 17
• Average Taxable Increase: Three percent overall
• Net Taxable Value: $297.2B (up from $286.5B in 2024)
• Residential Protests: 228,224 handled efficiently

If you would like more information, please contact Vickie Doane at 817-212-7050 or vdoane@tarrantcountytx.gov.