WHAT’S A TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR?
Everything you want to know about the office…
Let’s be honest: to be called the Tax Assessor-Collector won’t win anyone a popularity contest. But it’s an important elected office that serves a critical function in making government work, funding our schools, helping citizens understand their rights and navigate the process, and registering voters.
A couple interesting facts about the Office of Tax Assessor-Collector (yeah, I said interesting):
More than you imagined…
the office collects taxes for 127 local government agencies including 21 cities, 16 emergency districts, the county, the hospital district (Travis County Healthcare District), the junior college (Austin Community College District), 54 municipal utility districts, 1 road district, 15 school districts, and 17 water control improvement districts.
Change is ahead…
beginning in 2024, the Tax Assessor-Collector will for the first time become a voting member on the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) Board of Directors. While the Tax Assessor-Collector calculates and collects property taxes, it’s the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) that makes the determination of the value of properties. Never before has the Tax Assessor-Collector had a vote to impact and influence the appraisal district. The responsibilities of the Board of Directors include selection of members of the appraisal review board and the Chief Appraiser, setting the budget, and establishing policies for TCAD. Overall, TCAD is responsible for sending out Notices of Appraised Value, handling protests and administering exemption and deferral applications, in addition to determining property values and improvement districts.
OK, now raise your voice…
that’s because this office also has voter registrar responsibilities, including accepting applications for voter registration, issuing voter certificates, maintaining voter registration lists, verifying petitions for local option elections, and submitting required reports to the secretary of state’s office. In Travis County, the Tax Assessor-Collector has the responsibility to create accurate voter rolls and ensure everyone who is eligible has an opportunity to register to vote. But you’re already registered, right? If not, come on down.
Titles? We have a lot of them…
The office also serves as an agent of the DMV. The office of tax assessor-collector is responsible for the registration, titling, and title transfer of all motor vehicles and trailers in the county. Sales tax on all automobiles sold in the county is collected by the tax assessor-collector and paid to the State of Texas.