Statement - September 1999

1998 School Property Value Study Showed Almost 6 Percent Increase
Rylander Reports
Statewide Median Appraisal Ratios
Statewide Coefficients of Dispersion
1998 Effective M&O Rates Certified to TRS
Reminder: Annual Property Tax Conference October 4-5 in Austin
Joint Conference Pre-Registration Form
Property Tax Division's 21st Annual Conference Agenda

Property Tax Division's 21st Annual Conference Agenda

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
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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
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.

"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.

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?

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.

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?

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

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.

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?

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)?

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.

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.

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

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