In a move that reshapes local governance in Galveston County, Texas, the county has announced the opening of applications for the positions of Appraisal District Directors.
This follows the passage of Proposition 4 in November, which, aside from securing significant school property tax reductions, also mandated the election of three county appraisal district directors in counties with a population exceeding 75,000.
According to Cheryl Johnson, the Galveston County Tax Assessor-Collector, the newly elected directors will be part of a nine-member board. This board will consist of five appointed members, the elected county tax assessor-collector, and the three newly elected directors. These positions are nonpartisan, at-large, and require a majority vote to win.
The application period opens on January 17th and runs through February 16th in anticipation of the May 4th election. Eligible candidates must be registered voters in Galveston County and have resided there for at least two years prior to July 1st, the date they would take office.
Aspiring candidates can submit their applications to the Office of the County Judge, accompanied by either a $400 filing fee or 500 signatures on the appropriate petition form. Write-in candidates who have a separate application form have until February 20th to submit their applications without the fee or petition requirement.
The elected directors will assume office on July 1st, and subsequent elections will be integrated into the November 2026 general election cycle. Employees of taxing units and the County Appraisal District (CAD), with certain exceptions, are ineligible to run.
The responsibilities of the CAD directors are significant. They are tasked with hiring the chief appraiser, appointing the taxpayer liaison officer and agricultural board members, and, as per Senate Bill 2, selecting appraisal review board members. Additionally, they will approve the CAD Reappraisal Plan, set to be presented later this summer.
Johnson encourages the residents of Galveston County to consider serving in these vital roles. Comprehensive details about the application process, eligibility requirements, and other relevant information can be found on the Galveston County Tax Office website, www.galcotax.com, under ‘Hot Topics.’
