non profit harris county. property taxes. taxpayers for equal appraisal.real property.

HCADTEA.ORG is a non-profit organization established to help you understand how to protest your property taxes, both real property and business property, so that you can save money. In a perfect world, your property would be taxed fairly and uniformly. We are here to help you understand how property taxes are set, both in Houston and Harris County, Texas, the State of Texas, and, in fact, all over the United States.

Spring, 2002

Set out below are stories by date of occurrence which will interest you, the property taxpayer in Harris County, about activities at HCAD:
The is a continuation of a brief history of some of the public and private statements of HCAD’S current general counsel and at the same time, the second in command of HCAD’s entire operation, Sands Littlefield Stiefer (S.L.S.):

Excerpts:

Spring, 2000

HCAD ARB regular open business meeting where Mr. Bill Crum introduces Stiefer who will make a statement on behalf of the chief appraiser who was in Austin at the time.

“Item #4, I would like to introduce at this time Mr. Sands Stiefer who will give us some marching orders.”

Stiefer, “Good morning Mr. Chairman, members. I am here on behalf of Jim Robinson, the chief appraiser of the Harris County Appraisal District. Jim is in Austin this morning because this is the last day for the senate to pass bills out of committee. He is making sure or trying to make sure that the legislature doesn’t do anything worse to us today than they have at this time in past years.

March 15, 2002

A meeting of the HCAD ARB (a regular open business meeting along with an additional educational training).

The vice chairperson, Anne Roberts, introduces Stiefer, “We have Mr. Sands Stiefer as part of our orientation but since he was generous to come in on his off day, we’re going to allow him to speak to us during the meeting. I am going to tell you a little bit about Mr. Stiefer. For the past 3 years, he has been chairperson of a task force to improve the efficiency of the ARB hearing process. Mr. Stiefer is the chief deputy and general counsel for the Harris County Appraisal District. He is the second in command to Mr. Robinson. He has been with the appraisal district for over 10 years. And prior to joining the appraisal district, he was the general counsel for Texas state property tax board, now the comptroller’s property tax division. For the last 3 years he has chaired a task force consisting of members of all divisions and ARB executive committee members that has been dedicated to improving and streamlining the hearing process. He also supervises Mr. Saegert, Mr. Renfro, in their activities for the district. Mr. Stiefer.

Mr. Stiefer, “ Good morning. I want you to know that I have been in the property tax business for over 20 years. I didn’t have gray hair until I started supervising Michael (Saegert).

What is the taxpayer's role?

You can play an effective role in the process.....
if you know your rights, understand the remedies available to you, and fulfill your responsibilities.

Taxpayers for Equal Appraisal Access Information! Taxation must be equal and uniform!

Property taxes must be equal and uniform. Protesting taxes must be a fair and equitable process. All property must be valued and taxed equally and uniformly.

Taxpayers for Equal Appraisal Access Information!
Taxation must be equal and uniform!

Property taxes must be equal and uniform.
Protesting taxes must be a fair and equitable process.
All property must be valued and taxed equally and uniformly.