Dear Denton County Appraisal District,
Perhaps it would be easier for everyone involved if you’d just make a note in your database to appraise my property accurately and fairly each year the first time. You may think that I will tire of the “protest” game and just give in like some many people invariably do. And I don’t blame you. It’s a frustrating process (by design?) that I loathe. But I loathe paying higher taxes even more, so I suppose that you and I will be seeing a lot of each other over the coming years.

On a more positive note, I do appreciate the professionalism and relative fairness demonstrated by your staff appraisers. They seem to genuinely listen and attempt to work toward a mutually agreeable resolution; however, the large blonde “gatekeeper” lady is downright scary and abrasive.

Sincerely,
Lori Tolbert

Having just “won” my fifth consecutive dispute, I wish that I had figured out this secret before now–arrive at 7:30 a.m. (1/2 hour before the doors open) to avoid a multi-hour wait. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt to bring along a cute little blonde girl in a polka dot dress and pigtails to soften the hearts of even the most crusty employees.

This year’s tax savings directly attributable to protesting: $700 gross, $553.47 net (after factoring in that my appraised value (pre-protest) was capped artificially “low” to begin with because the year-over-year increase exceeded the legal limit of 10%). Therefore, comparing my NEW appraised value (post-protest) with the OLD appraised value (pre-protest, not capped) yields a tax savings of $700, but when you factor in the fact that taxes were originally being assessed on a CAPPED appraised value, I only actually realize $553.47 in savings. Confusing, I know. But I choose to see the glass as half full and will think of myself as $700 richer because of today’s efforts. Not bad for an hour’s worth of work.