Furse, Jackson call for reappraisal of property

Galveston County Daily News
From staff reports
Published September 29, 2008

HOUSTON — Austen Furse, Republican candidate for Texas Senate District 17, was joined by Sen. Mike Jackson in calling on local officials to immediately authorize reappraisal of all property damaged by Hurricane Ike.

"There are thousands of people who suffered significant damage or lost their entire homes," Furse said. "It is only fair that they should have their properties reappraised so that we don't ask people to pay taxes on a home that was washed away by Hurricane Ike."

"Existing law authorizes local officials in a disaster area to proceed with a reappraisal process so folks who lose their homes or suffer significant damage pay a fair property tax for the portion of the year after their homes were damaged or destroyed," Jackson said.

The existing law that allows this reappraisal says the Hurricane Ike tax relief plan must be authorized by each taxing jurisdiction.

Once the reappraisals are authorized, each central appraisal district in the affected areas will, at the request of the property owner, reappraise each damaged or destroyed property.