Fresh faces From the cover
How we got here
What’s happening
Zooming in
2023
Feb. 21: Keller council votes to recall TAD Chair Kathryn Willemon due to lack of transparency Feb. 22: Willemon resigns
The new board members said they plan to enhance the district’s transparency and help restore the public’s trust, according to statements they gave Community Impact prior to the election. “Taxpayers’ trust ... has been shattered,” Morris said. “TAD has been hostile to the taxpayers they are meant to serve, tried to hide the truth from the public and are difficult to work with. Tarrant County deserves better.” Keller resident Donna Kyser said the review board process used to be burdensome and an appeal was met with a short meeting and quick decision. Last year, an appeal was approved due to foundation issues with her house. Her appeal this year was approved without a hearing. “It worked out much better for me—it saved me time and ultimately saved me more money,” Kyser said. “This year was much more simplified and I was so grateful when I left.” The TAD also was the victim of a ransomware attack in March, according to Chief Appraiser Joe Don Bobbitt. Medusa, a group of hackers, asked for $700,000 after accessing information. The board and Bobbitt, with advice from the FBI, chose not to pay the ransom. Bobbitt said employees thought it was a server issue at first due to antiquated equipment and software before employees found files that traced back to Medusa. A week prior to the hack, appraisal notices were printed and waiting to be mailed to Tarrant County residents. Bobbitt said had the attack happened earlier, there would’ve been delays up to two months for municipalities that use TAD numbers to budget. “It was great management and by the grace of God it wasn’t worse,” TAD Chairman Vince Puente Sr. said.
The TAD board of directors grew to add four additional members this year, and as of July 1, nine people will now vote. Three new board members, Callie Rigney, Matt Bryant and Eric Morris, were sworn in by Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare. Wendy Burgess, Tarrant County tax assessor-collector, sat on the board but as a nonvoting member. She accounts for the ninth voting member. Rigney, Bryant and Morris became the first members elected by the public, rather than taxing entities.
May 9: Vince Puente Sr. appointed to TAD board
Aug. 25: Director of Information Systems Cal Wood fired Sept. 1: Chief Appraiser Jeff Law resigns
By the numbers
Sept. 6: William Durham begins serving as interim chief appraiser
The May 4 election was the first to elect Tarrant Appraisal District board members.
Total votes in May: 83,336 Total number of registered voters in Tarrant County: 1.27M
Dec. 15: TAD board votes in three new members Dec. 23: Joe Don Bobbitt hired as chief appraiser
6.52% voter turnout
2024
Top 3 candidates receiving votes Place 1-Eric Morris: 39,223 Place 2-Callie Rigney: 44,316 Place 3-Matt Bryant: 35,822
March 14: TAD website suffers technical issues March 21: Ransomware attack by Medusa
May 4: Three new board members elected
6 board members
3 new members
9 total board members
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July 1: New members sworn in
July 22: TAD board changes appraisals to every two years with no more than 5% increase in 2026
SOURCES: TARRANT APPRAISAL DISTRICT, TARRANT COUNTY ELECTION OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCES: TARRANT APPRAISAL DISTRICT, TARRANT COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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