The Fort Bend Central Appraisal District is again seeking county approval for a new $6.4 million headquarters proposal because the CAD board believes it’s the best of all options available.
“The board believes that the resolution they started with is the best option out there,” chief CAD appraiser Glen Whitehead said on Thursday. “If it fails, we will have to seek other options.”
That’s because current CAD offices, on F.M. 2218 in Rosenberg, are seriously overcrowded, Whitehead said, adding that office space meant for 60 people “and the crowds that accompany that” are now home to about 72 employees. More are needed, but there’s no space for additional desks, as even most of the building’s storage space already is being used for offices.
Whitehead said he had pulled an identical resolution from the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court agenda on June 9, after learning of an alterative proposal by Precinct 1 Commissioner Richard Morrison.
But after exploring that proposal, which basically involved remaining at the current offices, adding 80 parking spaces and gaining between 4,000 and 5,000 square feet of office space as the result of a building neighbor moving out, the board rejected the idea.
Whitehead said he approached county Facilities and Planning Director Don Brady, who helped arrange an engineering study at the current building. The study showed required drainage work would cost the CAD $300,000 to $330,000, bringing the cost of adding 80 parking spaces to half a million dollars.
“The board thought that was ridiculous, and we could only expand another 4,000 square feet,” Whitehead said. “Long-term, it’s a bad investment. Why do it?”
The CAD board needs approval of its plans from at least 128 of the county’s 170 or so property taxing entities. So far the vote has been mixed, with Fort Bend Independent School District turning it down last week, Rosenberg City Council approving it, but Needville Council rejecting it Wednesday night.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers said earlier Thursday that a developer in his district offered to donate 10 acres to the CAD to locate in a commercial set-aside on his development.
Meyers said he thinks it would make sense to locate a new CAD facility closer to Fort Bend County’s population center than in west Rosenberg, where the CAD proposes moving.
However, Whitehead said the CAD board has been studying the best location for a new building for many months, and demographic experts all say the Richmond-Rosenberg area will be the county’s population center in a few years.
The proposed new CAD building location is a 12-acre plot at Bamore and Klauke Road. Whitehead said eventually, Texas Department of Transportation plans will change the configuration of Bamore and bring State Highway 36 adjacent to it, making the new site very accessible.
“More growth is coming to this county, and the board is looking for a long-term solution,” Whitehead said.
He added that the Fort Bend CAD has for years been making do with much less money than comparable sized districts.
For example, he said, the Montgomery County CAD has 20,000 fewer parcels than Fort Bend, yet it has a budget of $5.8 million, $400,000 less than the Fort Bend CAD’s $5.4 million annual budget.
Here’s the solution. Let CAD move into the new FBISD Global Science Center, and they can put up an interactive “science” display about why it is necessary for dumb peasants in a feudal system to keep paying tribute money(taxes)to their oppressors.
I wonder when a long-term solution to this BS will be offered by our local politicians like Howard and Hebert? Is it because they don’t really want a real solution. You’d a thought they would have supported appraisal and rate caps if they gave a damn about the average joe as well as moving for the public to elect the CAD board (rather than have the taxing entities select their own). These two calling themselves conservatives is like saying Madoff was an honest man. Wake up people!
Sure fire the employees of the CAD! But here is a question…are you willing to pay for their medical expenses (no insurance),food,childcare (so the unemployed can find a new job),pay higher city taxes so the city can help pay for their utilities? On second thought, why not just allow those individuals to get on welfair. It’s obvious that SayWhat has enough money to throw around for higher taxes. I know that most of use are not willing to go back to the way that things were before the CAD was created? Each taxing jurisdiction set their own values!!!! Instead of blaming everything on the CAD, attend an open meeting held by our taxing authorities and speak your mind about the tax rates.
A change of FBCAD misleader to eliminate or cut protesters actions to justice property values.
I’d favor a 3% annual cap, I’m not sure why so many are against it but it’d eliminate this problem.
Boohoo. I have a solution for their over crowding problem. How about fire all the dead wood (that would include every single employee who works in this department) and then shut the CAD down since its useless and nothing more than a way for the government to extort money from homeowners? Sounds like a fine plan to me!
With FBCAD providing future honesty appraisal valuations will cut high number of protester turn outs, to justify appraisal actions. Respect state 10% annual limits increases!
Of course, the CAD should economize. We have to economize. We have to choose between paying higher taxes and buying food for our children. The CAD wants to enlarge their empire at our expense.