By Austin R. Eck
Tax Assessor-Collector Marissa Weinheimer told Gillespie County Commissioners on Monday she was willing to allow the county to move tax collection to the Gillespie Central Appraisal District.
But the decision to move the county tax collection to the Gillespie Central Appraisal District is not yet official, and a proposal to “fix” the tax collector’s office procedures is on the table.
Commissioners took no action on a proposal submitted by Dawson Forensic Group. Originally, the proposal from Steve Dawson outlined the type of action he would take to help make the TAC office more efficient, but in his proposal he noted, the type of action he takes would change depending if the office did not collect taxes for the county next year.
The proposed cost of the Dawson group’s services was $9,600, including a $2,500 retainer.
When asked if she going to collect taxes for the county next year, Weinheimer said she understood the burden two tax collecting agencies placed on taxpayers.
“I know it is my constitutional duty to collect the taxes, but as a taxpayer myself, I know it’s easier to collect taxes all at one place,” she said. “I hate getting rid of them because it is my constitutional duty, but if it is going to be better for the taxpayers, I will go ahead and do it.”
While commissioners agreed that it is beneficial to have all taxes collected in one office, it raised concerns about the proposal from Dawson, which did not include a transition plan from the TAC Office to the Appraisal District.
“I think it is more important to get a transition plan in place,” County Judge Mark Stroeher said. “Especially based on what you’re saying this morning. If you approve the county going to the appraisal district, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to a major overhaul of your procedures.”
In the past year, most taxing entities have switched to the Gillespie Central Appraisal District (GCAD), but commissioners cannot switch tax collecting agencies unless the tax assessor-collector allows them to make the change.
After an audit or her office, the Dawson Forensic Group revealed that $129,476.90 in total was owed to entities by the TAC Office.
If the county transition takes place, it has the potential to benefit all taxing entities.
Stroeher expects the next commissioners’ meeting, they will vote on changing its tax-collection agency. In the meantime, commissioners hope to have Weinheimer signs a statement saying she is allowing the county to transition.
According to David Oehler, chief appraiser for GCAD, if the county comes over to the appraisal district for tax collection, all agencies will pay similar rates to what they were paying. If the county abstains from transitioning, entities the appraisal district collects for will pay a “pretty significant increase.”
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