Protests submitted to the Fort Bend County Appraisal districts are tallied at 52,927 for 2008. That is a 32% increase over 2007's 35,954 protests filed. This dramatic increased has caused a backlog of about 3 weeks at FBCAD.

The increase is due in part to a change in boundaries which caused Fort Bend County to handle an additional 7,550 accounts which were zoned to Harris County Appraisal District last year. Dramatic growth in the area is another factor. According to Glen Whitehead, chief apprisier for Fort Bend County Appraisal District, "We're also up by 100,000 parcels from what we had seven years ago. That's how much growth there has been here. When you have more people and more properties, you typically have more protests. Percentage wise we have been growing enormously quick compared to a lot of other places."

On a personal note, I filed protests to decrease the appraisal value on all of my properties in Fort Bend County and Harris County. I still have one protest appointment left to even be set for Harris County Appraisal District. It is unusual that they are running so late. I have seen a reluctance at both FBCAD and HCAD to adjust their appraisals according to actual market values. While some neighborhood values have been declining, the appraisal districts continue to increase the values. Surely this has a lot to do with the increase in protests. At least I hope that more owners are defending their right to fair taxation.

Just wondering... has anyone ever gotten their yearly FBCAD or HCAD appraisal values that were lowered from the previous year by the appraisal district's original appraisal?