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Annual Property Tax Conference Set for October 4-5 in Austin

The latest in property tax laws and issues will be the main topics of the 41st Institute on Property Taxation held with the Comptroller's Property Tax Division 21st Annual Conference for tax professionals and taxpayers. The conference is the joint effort of the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) School of Public Affairs, the Texas Association of Assessing Officers, and the State Comptroller's Property Tax Division. Set for Monday and Tuesday, October 4 and 5, the conference site is the Thompson Conference Center on the University of Texas campus at Red River and 26th Streets in Austin. The conference dates are selected for available meeting and hotel facilities and for avoiding conflicting dates with other property tax seminars. All conference sessions and workshops will be held in the Thompson Conference Center.

The $100 registration fee covers the cost of the rooms for the joint conference general sessions and workshops, refreshments, and handouts. Van transportation will be available from the Doubletree Hotel to the conference center. Please send the fee with the registration form to the Office of Conference and Training at the LBJ School at the address listed on the form.

Time information
Registration will be in the lobby of the Thompson Conference Center between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning, October 4. General sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning and 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 5. Workshop sessions will be from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. on Monday and from 9:00 a.m. until 10:15 on Tuesday. A closing general session on Tuesday begins at 10:15 and ends around 12:30 p.m.
Hotel arrangements
The Doubletree Hotel has set aside a room block for conference participants at the preferential room rate of $70 (single) and $110 (double). The hotel is located at 6505 North IH 35, Austin, Texas 78752; the telephone number is 512/454-3737. The special rate will be offered until September 13, or until the room block is filled. Please tell the reservation clerk that you are a program participant to obtain the special rate.

A van service schedule will be available at the front desk at check-in time.

Special assistance
The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs staff wants to assist people with special needs. Please indicate on the registration form if a person requires assistance. The staff asks for notice before September 15.
Refund policy
If pre-registered but unable to attend, a person is entitled to a full refund if the LBJ School receives cancellation notice at least three working days before the conference. The refund must be requested in writing, stating the social security/tax I.D. number of the refund recipient. Refunds will be processed after the completion of the conference. Partial refunds or fee payments cannot be accepted or processed. There will be no refunds for late cancellations and no-shows. The LBJ School cannot be responsible for any expenses incurred before a person received a confirmation of registration from the LBJ School office.

The conference program and registration form follow.

41st Institute on Property Taxation and
State Comptroller's Property Tax Division's 21st Annual Conference
Joint Conference Agenda
Monday, October 4, 1999     Thompson Center
7:30 a.m. Registration Lobby
8:30 a.m. OPENING GENERAL SESSION Rooms 1.110 and 3.102
Welcome and Introduction of the Comptroller
Ed Dorn, Dean, LBJ School of Public Affairs

Address by Carol Keeton Rylander,
Texas State Comptroller (invited)
9:00 a.m. Legislative Update
A representative from the Comptroller's Property Tax Division and the chair of the Legislative Committee of TAAO will give an update of the changes and their impact that came out of the work of the 75th Legislative Session. Speakers: Dan Wilson, Executive Assistant, Comptroller's Property Tax Division;
Kenneth Nolan, Director of Technical Services, Dallas Central Appraisal District, Dallas
10:00 a.m. Break
10:20 a.m. Importance of Non-Verbal Communication
Most of what we communicate we say with our bodies. How can we be sure what we are communicating? How can we learn to read and hear others?
Speaker: Jan Hargrave, Consultant, Houston
12:15 p.m. Lunch Break
1:30 p.m. CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS I
  1. Open Forum I - Open Record/Open Meeting Issues
    After a brief overview of the current laws governing Open Records/Open Meetings, participants will be invited to share their experiences, questions, problems, and solutions with each other.

  2. a. BTPE (45 minutes)
    The Executive Director of the Board of Property Tax Examiners will present an update on the changes in the BTPE certification and other services.
  1. b. PTEC (45 minutes)
    The board members of the Property Tax Education Committee will discuss the on-going work of their committee and put the word out that they need writers.

  2. Law Changes in Collection
    The 76th Legislative Session brought a number of changes in the way property taxes are collected. This session will discuss these changes and their implications.

  3. Communicating with the Public
    While property tax issues affect almost everybody in the community, many people are not aware of the laws, regulations, and terminology relating to property tax issues. How tax appraisers and assessor/collectors communicate correct and succinct information that can be easily understood by members of the public will be the topic of discussion in this workshop.

  4. Tax Increment and Abatements
    The focus of this session is the role of the tax office and appraisal district in monitoring contract compliance.

  5. School Finance Issues
    Speakers will explain the new elements of state funding for local public schools, as well as the impact of Senate Bill 4 and its property tax relief for local taxpayers through additional state funding.
3:00 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS II
  1. Open Forum II - Collection Issues
    Representatives from the Comptroller's Property Tax Division will discuss legislative changes and other issues relating to property tax collection. Areas will include refunds, payment options, exemption applications, and electronic tax payments.

  2. "Am I safe to go there?"
    A discussion of safety issues for property tax professionals will include office safety, personal safety at the workplace, and issues relating to access to personal and real property of taxpayers.

  3. Myers-Briggs Type Indicators for Managing the Office
    The time-proven concept of the interaction of different personality types on the workplace will be examined in depth. How do we protect ourselves from our own "blind spots" and how do we enhance collaboration with other types?

  4. Law Changes in Appraisal and Exemptions
    The 76th Legislative Session brought some refinements for appraising and exempting property. This session will discuss these changes and their implications in detail.

  5. Deregulation of Public Utilities
    Placing public utility companies in a market competitive situation will lead to substantial shifts in value of these companies' assets. What is the likely impact on property taxes?

  6. Property Value Study and House Bill 3211
    A representative from the Comptroller's Property Tax Division will discuss the work and findings of the property value study and the impact of House Bill 3211 (appraisal level of sold and unsold property).
5:00 p.m. Adjourn for the Day
 
Tuesday, October 5, 1999     Thompson Center
8:00 a.m. GENERAL SESSION Rooms 1.110 and 3.102
Texas Demographics - the State of Change
The Director of the County Information Project will introduce the Project with a special emphasis on tax data and demographics, highlighting existing patterns and future trends. Speaker: Stanley Reid, Director, Financial Data Project, Texas Association of Counties
8:40 a.m. Break
9:00 a.m. CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS III
  1. Open Forum III - The Internet Experience
    An exchange of views and experiences with having all or some of the property tax records and information available to the public on the Internet.

  2. Use of Software in Strategic and Project Planning
    Most local governments have undertaken strategic planning efforts. There are now software programs available to assist in the project planning. What has been the experience in offices that used any of these software programs? Did the structure and information help or hinder?

  3. Impact of Turn of the Millennium on Tax Collection
    Members of the public are taking steps to prepare for the turn of the millennium. What impact can these have on the collection of local taxes? Also, what is the impact on collections (calculating penalty and interest) and appraisal (calculating depreciation)?

  4. Tax Litigation in Texas
    An attorney from a law firm representing tax clients in Texas will offer an overview of the issues underlying litigation in property tax disputes.

  5. Duties and Responsibilities of ARB Members
    An attorney and a tax agent will offer an overview of the duties and responsibilities of ARB members. While this session is primarily aimed at attending ARB members, tax professionals who work with the ARB may also benefit from this presentation.

  6. Evaluation of 515 Housing (Low Income Rural Rental Housing)
    Housing under Section 515 of the 1949 Housing Act is available through the Farmers Home Administration to low income families and the elderly in remote rural communities. What is the impact of the Section 515 provisions on appraisal of the property?
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. CLOSING GENERAL SESSION Rooms 1.110 and 3.102
Using Communication to Help Prevent Burnout
Our colleagues and employees often take the brunt of the public's dissatisfaction and frustration. What can we do to enhance morale and help those on our staff feel valued and motivated?
Speaker: John Daly, Professor in Communication, The University of Texas at Austinz
11:30 a.m. Impact of Legislation That Did Not Pass
This session will review the work of the last legislative session by focusing on property tax related legislation that did not pass. Were there signs of things to come, foreshadowing the work of the session in 2001? What were the discernible trends?
Speakers: tba
12:30 p.m. Adjourn
*Sessions are Subject to Change without Notice