Board approves preliminary budget

The Cass County Appraisal Board convened last Tuesday to discuss and approve nine agenda items including the preliminary budget for 2021, annual contracts for private appraisal firms and retaining new legal counsel for the district.

Chief Appraiser Anita White presented to the board the preliminary budget for 2021--significant increases in the cost of appraisals for commercial and business-personal property serviced by a private appraisal firm currently contracted with the district were discussed at length.

The private appraisal firm submitted the terms of a new two-year contract in which the cost for its services have risen by almost 20% over last year’s budget.

Health insurance premiums for district employees have risen as much as 10% over last year’s budget.

Also noted was a 2019 budget surplus of $56,000 which was refunded to 18 taxing entities within the county in April.

The board approved the preliminary budget and directed White to seek additional proposals for commercial and business-personal property appraisals.

Additionally, White was urged to allocate more money for employee raises.

The final budget will be submitted to all taxing entities within Cass County no later than Sept. 15.

Board members voted to retain McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C. (MVBA), a Northeast Texas based law firm specializing in representing appraisal districts.

The Cass County Appraisal Board will reconvene at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 20.