Polk County News - Breakout

1 Comment

By Chad Hill

Polk County property owners,

As most may be aware, the real estate market in Polk County has seen tremendous growth with sale prices increasing year-over-year. The demand for housing, vacant land and commercial properties remains incredibly high. New construction has reached record levels, increasing by 70% in the last year alone. Thirty percent of all properties in Polk County have transferred in the last three years.

In the next several days, you will receive appraisal notices by mail. The property value increases will be larger increases than normal. These changes in market value are based on current market data and verified sales information.

Property Valuation

By law, appraisal districts are required to appraise all properties at 100 percent of market value, or what the property would sell for as of Jan. 1 of that year. We review recent sales of comparable property, local cost data, and income and expense information, where applicable, to determine property values.

Appraisal district values are tested every other year by the State Comptroller’s office to ensure appraisal accuracy for school funding purposes.

Protesting your value

If you believe your property’s market value is incorrect, you have the right to protest your value. Polk Central Appraisal District will make every effort to make this process as easy as possible. Appraisers will be available for informal in-person meetings daily from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1-5 p.m. until May 15. Meetings will be scheduled first come, first served; an appointment is not necessary. To a limited extent, conferences by phone are also possible depending on staff availability.

A property owner can file a protest by mail or online. Through the online portal, you can upload pertinent information, such as photos and other information, and you may settle your protest online.

You may also fill out the protest form included with your notice and mail it to the CAD office mailing address at 114 Mathews, Livingston, Texas 77351.

We recommend that you don’t come to your informal meeting or your formal protest emptyhanded. Any information you have could help resolve any valuation issues. If you have recently purchased your property, you may bring your closing statement. You may complete a sales letter that was sent to you by our office when the property was transferred into your name. If your property is in poor condition, you may bring photos or repair estimates. If your property is currently listed for sale, you may bring your signed listing agreement.

Informal meetings are conducted so that as many protests as possible are resolved before the Appraisal Review Board has to get involved. If you cannot resolve the valuation issue informally, you may protest by the date contained in your notice of appraised value. Appraisal Review Board hearings will begin May 17 and will continue until all cases are resolved.

Exemptions

It is also important to make sure you are entitled to any exemptions you may qualify for. Exemption forms are available on our website www.polkcad.org. For 2023, Polk County has adopted, for the first time, a general homestead exemption that could help reduce your overall tax bill. If you currently have a homestead exemption, the new county exemption should already show up on your appraisal notice.

Polk CAD will make every effort to make the protest process as smooth as possible. For more information, please visit our website at www.polkcad.org or call 936-327-2174.

Write a comment

American Legion Post 312 of Livingston has partnered with the local Polk County Scouts BSA Troops 97 and 197 as their new charter organization.  Some of the scouts and leaders were able to be at the presentation of the charter certificate made by Trinity District Scout Executive Kevin Ready. Both the troops and the legion are equally proud and excited to begin this new chapter together. The American Legion has strong, longstanding ties to the BSA. The two troops serve Polk County and surrounding areas, with open membership to those from Polk, Tyler and San Jacinto counties. Both the boys troop and the separate girls troop offer monthly activities, perform community service, learn leadership skills and meet weekly year-round. Troop 97 was chartered locally almost 70 years ago and has been a well-established fixture in Livingston. Girls Troop 197 was formed in 2020 and has continued to thrive since they began, despite the pandemic year. The troops continue to meet at First Methodist Church of Livingston, have Scout Sunday there every February and support each other. The Legion has shown much support of the troop, including most recently offering to help with a portion of the first-year membership fees for those from Legion families interested in scouting. Those interested in joining may find online applications and contact info at beascout.org and search for 77351. Those interested in helping teach merit badges, have presentations they could offer, first aid and CPR, nature learning or other educational and fun activities or tours, please contact the troop leaders listed online. Courtesy photo

Write a comment

From Enterprise Staff

Action related to resolutions authorizing submission of an application for the 2023-2024 Texas Community Development Block Grant Program’s community development fund competition was taken by the Onalaska City Council during its April 11 regular meeting. Resolutions authorizing signatories for the 2023-2024 application and future grants administered through the Texas Department of Agriculture’s TDA Go grants online were approved.

Council approved authorizing the mayor to sign the city’s consent to assignment contract between Piney Woods Sanitation and Live Oak Environmental LLC as required by contract.

In personnel matters, Council accepted the resignation of Stephen Cook, a part-time telecommunications operator, in good standing.

In police department activity for the month of March, Chief Jessica Stanton reported that the department conducted 304 subdivision checks, 115 business checks and responded to 364 calls, making 11 arrests and issuing 137 warnings and 74 citations. The department assisted other law enforcement agencies 13 times and the fire department and EMS seven times. Officers drove 2,733 miles, worked 23 cases, served 17 city warrants and conducted 21 follow-ups.

Reporting on the volunteer fire department’s activity for the month of March, Chief Jay Stutts said firefighters responded to 27 calls in the city and 23 calls in the county, expending 58 man-hours in the city and 89 man-hours in the county. Firefighters responded to two mutual aid calls, 29 medical calls, two structure fires, one vehicle fire, nine grass fires, one motor vehicle accident, four lake rescues, five assistance calls and two landing zone calls.

Fire Marshal/Building Inspector Lee Parrish reported that during the month of March there were three fire investigations for illegal burning. A citation was issued on one of them, one was unfounded with no prohibited materials observed being burned and the other has charges pending. He reported that his office assisted the police department four times and the fire department four times. Regarding code enforcement, he reported that he worked 25 cases. He also issued 25 permits/licenses during the month of March.

Reporting on behalf of the library, Sherry Brecheen said there are 1,763 patrons currently and a total of 15,505 holdings. The library was open 20 days in March and served 941 patrons, had a circulation of 761, a circulation per day of 38 and 89 instances of computer usage. Income during the month of March was $477.35 and 91.3 volunteer hours were worked.

Other business included approval of the minutes, vouchers and financial reports.

 

Write a comment

Forty-four bales of corrugated cardboard, weighing 45,200 pounds, from the Polk County Recycle Center was loaded onto a truck Thursday, headed to a mill in Louisiana. A spokesperson for Polk County Recycling & Beautification (PCRB), the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that runs the local recycling center, said that unfortunately, the price of cardboard has dropped significantly since the last time a load was sold, so this load is only worth about $1,000. However, that is still 45,200 pounds of material that has been diverted from the Polk County Landfill. For more information on PCRB and the recycling center, go to pcrbtexas.org. Photo by Brian Besch