As attention focuses on the recent presidential election, there’s an urgent issue at home that directly impacts our finances and property taxes not only in Tarrant County, but across the entire state. This isn’t just about politics; it’s about real effects on your wallet. Beneath the surface, a complex situation is unfolding at the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) and within local school districts, and we need to act to protect the progress we've made. The Hidden Battle Over Property Taxes Since 2022, we've seen significant progress in protecting taxpayer rights, thanks to new legislation that empowered taxpayers to elect representatives to the TAD Board of Directors. This shift happened because we collectively took a stand against practices that treated taxpayers unfairly as TAD acted without accountability. The new laws allow us to elect three taxpayer representatives, ensuring the board remains responsive to the community. However, recent election outcomes have brought new challenges. Governor Abbott recently emphasized his support for school choice, causing concern among public school advocates who worry this shift could reduce public school funding. Additionally, Northwest ISD faced a setback when its proposed tax rate increase (VATRE) failed in three counties. This defeat has heightened tensions between school districts and TAD as they try to secure funding for local education. The TAD Reappraisal Plan: A Source of Controversy Adding to the mix, TAD’s new reappraisal plan aims to reappraise properties every two years instead of annually. While this plan could stabilize property taxes for homeowners, school districts relying on increased property tax revenues are concerned it might limit their funding. This tension has sparked discussions among school districts about potential legal action against TAD, intensifying the debate. Why Gary Losada is the Right Choice for TAD’s Board of Directors With these complex issues at play, we need balanced, experienced leadership on the TAD Board. That’s why I’m endorsing Gary Losada for one of the five available board seats. Gary has a unique understanding of both taxpayer and school district concerns: Experience in Education: With a degree in Education from Stanford, Gary is deeply committed to public education. He values the importance of strong school funding while advocating for taxpayer fairness. Proven Leadership: Gary has already made a difference on the TAD board by eliminating inefficiencies and holding individuals accountable for questionable practices, leading to positive changes. Balanced Approach: Gary understands that a fair tax system benefits both taxpayers and schools. His ability to bridge the gap between these two perspectives makes him an ideal candidate to keep TAD moving in the right direction. Don't take it from me, read what Gary himself has to say. Here's a letter Gary wrote detailing some accomplishemnt and his vision for the future. How You Can Help The power to vote for TAD board members lies with local school board trustees, city council members, and county commissioners. To protect our progress, we need these voting members to hear from the community. Here’s how you can help:1. Contact Your Representatives: Email your local school board trustees and city council members. Let them know why you support Gary Losada for TAD’s Board of Directors.2. Share Gary’s Vision: Emphasize Gary’s commitment to balanced, fair property tax policies that protect both homeowners and school districts. Gary Losada’s experience and dedication make him the leader Tarrant County needs on the TAD Board of Directors. Your voice is crucial in ensuring fair property tax practices that benefit everyone. Let’s make sure our elected officials understand the importance of having Gary on the board.   Here's a video I made covering how this affects everybody     Here's my endorsement video for Gary

5 Simple Steps To Virtually Guarantee Success When Purchasing Your New Home 1. Know your DTI (that's code for "buying power") First, you’ll need to determine your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, which is just what it sounds like — your monthly expenses versus your monthly cash intake. This includes all the bills you have to pay, divided by your gross monthly income. When you consider your debts, include any recurring bills, such as student loans, car payments, child support payments — anything that you pay on a monthly basis. That number needs to be 45% of your gross monthly income. Once you have that, you can back into a price range that fits your monthly payment goals and how much money you have to close. But, remember that’s the “outside” number you can spend — and doesn’t mean that you necessarily should. I know all this sounds complicated, but don't worry, we do all the math for you. It's part of the free service that we provide. 2. Get Pre-qualified (for FREE) Before you even start looking at homes, you should shop around for mortgage lenders. This is another free service we offer. We routinely help buyers shop around for lenders. Our experience working with hundreds of buyers gives us insight as to which lenders are perfect for each specific need. Depending upon the area you're looking in and your credit score, you may also qualify for 100% financing up to a $400,000 loan. Many people don't know that the best lenders usually have dozens of incredible loan programs. It’s good to get it if you can, especially as a first-time homebuyer. 3. Find a Real Estate Agent You Can Trust While you might want to do some looking on your own, whether you’re browsing online or attending open houses, it’s in your best interest to find a trusted real estate agent. This is probably the biggest financial decision of your life up to this point. Don’t take it lightly; shop full-time agents. An agent will be your ally in sizing up the pros and cons of various homes and can even offer interior design advice. A good agent will walk you through the homebuying process linearly, before taking you to visit houses. They’ll help you understand what you can afford in what neighborhoods.  They do far more than scout out prospective homes. They are the ones “on your side” watching out for your best interest. We offer complimentary, no-obligation consultations even if you are many months away from your target move date. At the end of our meeting, you get to take home a book that clearly shows you all the timelines and answers all of the frequently asked questions that smart buyers have. 4. Choose the right neighborhood For some homebuyers, this step can be overwhelming. That’s why it’s smart to ask your real estate agent to weigh in. They often can offer advice on subjects that you might not have considered, such as whether the home is in the right school district for you or if it’s been on the market a while (and therefore might have a potentially anxious seller who’s ready to deal). But make sure to do your own looking, too, by checking out homes online and visiting them to get a better sense of your own tastes and needs.  As with any decision-making process, the more data you have, the less likely you are to make mistakes. So use every tool at your disposal to effectively hunt for the homes in your price range. Create a custom search HERE. 5. Prepare to Negotiate and Win in a Bidding War Ask your realtor what solutions they have to win a bidding war that does not include raising the purchase price. Here are some very easy ones: Write a personal letter along with the offer. Ask the lender to personally call the listing agent. Have a conversation with the listing agent to reveal the seller's needs. We have 11 more highly effective negotiation techniques that can help you win a bidding war, including how to beat cash offers even if you are financing 100% of the purchase price. For a FREE no-obligation buyer consultation, you may call us at (817) 928-4300 or email chandler@chandlercrouch.net

Early Voting: Monday, April 22, 2024 - Tuesday, April 30, 2024  | Election Day May 4, 2024 Background: Turmoil and Reform For the first time ever, voters in each of the largest counties across the state will elect three board members to oversee the agency charged with appraising property for tax purposes. The election on May 4, 2024, comes amid a tumultuous time for the Tarrant Appraisal District Board of Directors (BOD), which has been mired in a series of scandals. The fallout from public outcry last year resulted in departures of several top TAD leaders, including the board chairwoman, the chief appraiser, top IT executives, and the directors of residential and commercial departments. The final boot was given to the Tarrant tax assessor who recently lost the primary election. You can find your voting location here.  Legislative Response: SB 2 and Voter Empowerment State lawmakers took notice of the upheaval in Tarrant County and agreed to give voters the opportunity to choose who represents them on the board, which had only been appointed by the county, cities, school districts, and other local taxing entities. Senate Bill 2 requires counties with a population over 75,000 to have their boards of directors increased by three members, who will be elected by voters to staggered four-year terms. The change expanded the Tarrant County Board of Directors to nine voting members - four appointed, three publicly elected - and granted voting privileges to the tax assessor starting July 1, 2024. The three new positions are labeled At-Large Place 1, At-Large Place 2, and At-Large Place 3 on the countywide ballot. New Responsibilities: Shifting Powers and Accountability While the board of directors don’t make direct decisions regarding property values, they have the authority to choose who does. The board has a new responsibility of hiring all of the protest hearing panelists - who do have the power to change property values. Until now, the board’s main role had been to hire the county’s chief appraiser and set the appraisal district’s budget. The three newly elected positions will be like all other sitting board members, except they’ll have an extra special power when it comes to hiring panelists for the protest hearing. A candidate must receive approval from at least two of the three “at-large” directors when the total board votes. These panelists, who are formally called members the Appraisal Review Board (ARB), had been appointed to the position by an administrative law judge. Lawmakers hope the SB 2 legislation will address some of the loudest complaints about the tax protest system. Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare’s office was charged with approving candidates for the ballot. Eligibility requirements included: Must be a county resident for a least two years Must not be a representative of a tax entity or appraisal district The state left it to the appraisal districts to pay for the new election as an unfunded mandate, which was estimated to cost $300,000 in Tarrant County, said TAD board Chairman Vince Puente Sr. Meet the Candidates Competing for Tarrant County's Appraisal Board Place 1 Eric MorrisElectericmorris.com Sayeda Syedfacebook.com/Sayeda4TAD Trae Fowler fowlerfortad.com facebook.com/FowlerForTAD Place 2 Callie RigneyVoteCallieRigney.com Eric B. Crilefacebook.com/CrileforTAD Place 3 Chuck Kelleyfacebook.com/Chuck4TAD Matt BryantElectMattBryant.com Lee HendersonLeeHenderson.org

Here is a full blog article I wrote that answers a lot of questions about the Tarrant Tax Assessor Collector Election Wendy Burgess. I have worked on issues involving Wendy Burgess, but I have not worked with the other candidate in this primary elections, Rick Barnes. My comments are limited to what I have witnessed first hand.

Please, whatever you do, don't vote for Wendy Burgess. She has cost me dearly. Her primary responsibility is to represent the interest of the people so that if our tax system runs amuck, we can have a representative stand up for us. On this, she failed. Here’s what happened The government attacked me in an attempt to prevent me from helping you. I asked the TAD board dozens of times for help. She was the ONLY person on the TAD board elected to represent the citizens and at every turn, she defended the bad guys. This video is just the tip of the iceberg. When the government attacks its citizens and the person elected to defend us turns her back, why should we vote her back in office? But Chandler, tax bills were sent out. Shouldn’t she get credit for that? No. She’s not putting stamps on envelopes and staying up late to make sure all your tax bills are mailed out. Our government would not allow 1 politician to screw up sending out tax bills. Tax bills will be delivered regardless of who is in office. The staff takes care of this and they deserve all the credit. When the politician gets too involved they screw everything up by using our tax bills as a campaign tool like this. Why is the tax assessor an elected position? Good question. She doesn’t set the tax rate. She doesn’t determine the tax value of your house. The tax assessor doesn’t play any role whatsoever in increasing or decreasing your taxes. It is largely an administrative role. The office prints and mails your bill. It's an elected position because her #1 job is to make sure our tax system is implemented with fairness and consideration for the taxpayers she represents. It's an elected position so when the government turns on it's citizens, we can hold someone to account. The government turned on its citizens and she went right along with them.  But she doesn’t vote on the TAD board. You’re right… for now. However, new laws would make the Tax Assessor-Collector a voting member in July. Up to this point, her only job was to be the voice of the people, and she failed. She can, however, make motions. The only time I remember her making a motion was when she went against the staff’s recommended vendor (who was a fraction of the cost) in an attempt to “hook up” one of her biggest political donors with a government contract. Thankfully the motion didn’t pass, but it was very fishy. Why do politicians care about this office so much? Bottom line - name recognition. Tax Assessor is the perfect springboard into a higher office. Politicians rely on name recognition more than anything else to get elected. When you write your tax bill out to “Wendy Burgess,” it becomes very difficult to forget her name. Burgess understands this better than anyone… A ton of our tax bills got screwed up when she wasted money by using our tax bills as a campaign tool. Please don’t vote for her. 4 years is a long time. Voting locations for Tarrant Tax Assessor Collector Election: Early voting Feb 20-March 1. Election day March 5.

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Why So Many Protests in Tarrant County The number of protests per county have increased dramatically, but why has Tarrant increased so much more than other counties? The issue is gaining attention. Here are the numbers. This is the percentage increase per county since 2015:   "Harris County 11% Bexar County 27% Travis County 36% Dallas County 50% Tarrant County 265%!!! Seriously? What's up with that?" (Posted on Facebook by TAD Board Member Rich DeOtte) Here is a link to his research   I've been trying to objectively consider this.  Increased protests may be an indication of a good thing or bad thing.  Regardless, I wholeheartedly agree that answering the question about the cause of increased protests is among the most important tasks that TAD can focus on, and it is of high public interest. TAD is considering an audit to reveal the cause.   Positive Perspective: TAD has received glowing reports/audits of various kinds (eg financial, cyber security). If TAD's increased protests are an indication of uniquely good appraisal practices, they should be proud and wear their protest numbers as a badge of honor because they are doing a public service by helping owners that are being mistreated because of the flawed property tax code that TAD is forced to abide by.    Negative Perspective: If you believe the Tidwell Weaver audit, the increase could be evidence of a persisting significant dysfunction that cannot be ignored.    These are the theories I've heard that people have used to explain the increase. I can easily dismiss many, however until someone seeks to find the answer, nobody will really know:   Instant answer/automated protest made available by TAD More Agents protesting significantly more than other counties Chandler Crouch protesting for free More advertising/advocating promoting protesting Tarrant starting earlier contributes to more attention More properties are valued incorrectly compared to other counties  Residual effects of 2014/15 software debacle (perhaps people lost trust causing a spike) Its easier to win in Tarrant so the success of reductions attract more protesters ARB panels are friendlier TAD does a great job being more organized, accessible, and educational It's not actually higher in Tarrant, we just count them differently 2015/16 low values caused TAD to overcorrect which created a shock effect that motivated property owners (if true, watch out in 2021. ouch) Property values have increased more in Tarrant than other places Why do you think so many more people protest in Tarrant County than anywhere else?

In the statement below, the Tarrant Appraisal District Board of Directors acknowledged that taxpayers' confidential information was exposed on the internet because of a data security failure.   The admission was the result of a marathon meeting late Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, after I posted online and emailed thousands of my clients about the problems a day earlier.  I felt it was the right thing to do because nobody else was willing to tell the truth. After discovering the issue in October 2022, the prior TAD chief appraiser, Jeff Law and IT director chose to keep the data breach secret. In August 2023, secret audio of the IT director conspiring to lie to the public was published by the Star-Telegram. The fallout resulted in the IT director getting fired and the chief appraiser resigned.  The TAD board opened an investigation after hearing the secret audio in an attempt to find out the truth. On November 17, 2023, the TAD board chairman announced that the board was closing the investigation indicating no taxpayers would be notified of the issue. I found out through my sources that the investigation was being closed after only interviewing about half of the small IT department. I voiced my concerns privately and publically to the board and continued my own inquiries confirming that internal whistleblowers had provided the investigators with evidence showing private taxpayer information was exposed on the internet.  I sounded the alarm by telling you the truth. TAD initially responded by issuing a statement calling my information unfounded. Thankfully, hundreds of concerned taxpayers voiced concerns online and inundated TAD and its board members with calls and emails about these whistleblower allegations. The TAD board heard you and responded. After a marathon 9-hour board meeting, the TAD board attorney, Matthew Tepper, released an official statement on behalf of the board. He said an investigation discovered a data breach included private information, such as passwords, driver's licenses, resumes, and other information submitted by taxpayers. "This information demonstrates that there were significant vulnerabilities in TAD's systems that would have allowed access to confidential taxpayer information," the board's attorney wrote. "However, there is no evidence of an actual compromise of any taxpayer information." Stay tuned... I'm pretty sure they'll find evidence that shows someone accessed the private taxpayer data and also that ex-chief appraiser Jeff Law and other executives knew about it the entire time. I believe TAD's board is now responding appropriately (thanks to you).   Join me at the next TAD board meeting on Dec. 21, 2023 to learn more about the investigation. See below for the TAD board official response: 

Update: TAD Releases Statement Acknowledging Truth I have concerning news that may directly impact your privacy and the security of your personal information. I feel the right thing to do is to inform you about this. Nobody at the appraisal district is taking action to inform you, so I’m taking it upon myself.  In October 2022, The Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) became aware of a security failure affecting the servers that store data for TAD. Unfortunately, taxpayer private information, including photocopies of driver's licenses, possibly social security numbers and bank account numbers, were exposed on the internet. Shockingly, the board has yet to inform taxpayers who might be affected. Based on what I learned from multiple sources, it may affect everybody with a homestead exemption. The bank account and SSN exposure would only affect those who uploaded closing documents as evidence for a protest hearing or documents necessary to qualify for an exemption. TAD completely got rid of their old technology, and published a new website in early 2023 while "creating a false narrative that distances the truth from the media," as TAD's top IT executive was heard saying on a secret audio recording published by the Star-Telegram. The fallout eventually led to the resignation of Jeff Law, who had been the chief appraiser throughout years of controversies at TAD. At the Nov. 17, 2023, TAD board meeting, the outgoing chairman (the same guy who has been on the wrong side of nearly every controversial issue over the past 2 years) stated they were closing the investigation into the TAD security failure. Listen to here at the 3:13:38 timestamp of this TAD board video. After this was announced, I talked with my sources and found out that third-party investigators only interviewed half of the staff in TAD's IT department. I also confirmed that TAD had evidence that taxpayer information was exposed on the internet. But the TAD Board wasn't going to take further action unless they could obtain a list of IP addresses belonging to outsiders who downloaded the exposed private taxpayer data. This seems irresponsible to me.    I don't understand why TAD's board chairman and investigators don't want to notify the taxpayers who were potentially put at risk.  After hearing from concerned taxpayers (including me), TAD's attorney told me they were going to continue the investigation. I've seen firsthand how TAD and this current board conducts its investigations. The memory of their investigation concerning their attack on me is still fresh... I just don't trust it at all. Before the board chairman vacates his seat, he is trying to rush the hiring process to select a new chief appraiser before the majority of the board is replaced by newly elected board members taking office on Jan. 1, 2024. I don’t trust the current chairman to oversee the hiring process. Why would he rush hiring a chief appraiser less than a month before he leaves office thereby preventing the three new board members who will oversee the new chief appraiser from having input into who is hired? This on the heels of trying to sweep the security failure under the rug doesn’t sit well with me and I don't think I'm alone.  Telling you, the taxpayer, is the right thing to do.   I believe in transparency and the right of taxpayers to have a voice in decisions that directly impact them. Your presence and voice are essential in ensuring our concerns are heard and addressed. Together, we can make a difference and hold those responsible accountable. Here’s how you can take action: Share this info with neighbors and everywhere online Email the board members: Tony.Pompa@tadbod.org, JR.Martinez@tadbod.org, Jungus.Jordan@tadbod.org, Vince.Puente@tadbod.org, Rich.DeOtte@tadbod.org  Attend TAD board meetings at 2500 Handley Ederville Rd, Fort Worth:  Dec. 14, at 9 am - They will be interviewing chief appraiser candidates Dec. 21 (time tbd) - They plan to select and name the new chief appraiser   The only way I could afford to do this is because of your generous support. Here are two ways you can support our efforts: Donate here Send an email to chandler@chandlercrouch.net to get help from my expert real estate team to buy or sell, including help finding a house you can buy with under a 4% interest rate.      

The Keller City Council heard your voices and voted unanimously to recall the TAD Chairwoman for a long history of questionable decisions (scroll below the video for a list).  Now, the Tarrant County Judge and Commissioner's Court (TCCC) is responding to your outcry. Credit to TCCC for putting the item on their agenda.  Now, please join me in asking TCCC to finalize the recall and fill the seat with the runner-up from the last TAD board election. Scroll below the video for 2 Options on how you can let your voice be heard. In this video I give inside scoop and details about the dirty political games: Option 1 Attend Tomorrow's Meeting: When: Tuesday, March 7, 2023 - 10:00 AM Where: Commissioners Courtroom, Tarrant County Administration Building, 100 East Weatherford Street, 5th Floor, Fort Worth, TX 76196   Option 2 Send Emails (takes 2 min): Cut and paste if you're short on time, or customize your emails if you have a few extra moments:   To:  Rcbrooks@tarrantcountytx.gov; commissionerprecinct2@tarrantcounty.com; lmaldonado@tarrantcounty.com; commissionerpct4admin@tarrantcounty.com; edrandolph@tarrantcountytx.gov; gfickes@tarrantcounty.com; commissioner3@tarrantcountytx.gov; countyjudge@tarrantcountytx.gov   Subject line: Please recall TAD Chairperson   Dear Judge & Commissioners, Please vote to recall the TAD Chairperson. Please fill the seat with the runner-up from the last TAD board election. Thank you, [your name] [Optional: if comfortable, put your address] Tarrant County Taxpayer   In case you want to personalize your emails, here are more details: Commissioner Roy Brooks: Rcbrooks@tarrantcountytx.gov Commissioner Alissa Simmons: commissionerprecinct2@tarrantcounty.com; lmaldonado@tarrantcounty.com Commissioner Manny Ramirez: commissionerpct4admin@tarrantcounty.com; edrandolph@tarrantcountytx.gov Commissioner Gary Fickes: gfickes@tarrantcounty.com; commissioner3@tarrantcountytx.gov County Judge Tim O'hare: countyjudge@tarrantcountytx.gov    List of Questionable Decisions that Lead to the TAD Chairwoman Recall In order to have a productive appraisal district, we need to have a functioning board of directors with a chairperson who addresses problems head-on instead of ignoring them and hoping they go away. Here is a list of examples of how the chairwoman has mishandled serious issues during her tenure: The Chairwoman defended paying a TAD attorney over $32,000 per month [as reported here about this board meeting 2:26:00] The Chairwoman was given the responsibility of heading a subcommittee that would review Board Policy and handle matters concerning Boardroom audio. However, she only held one telephone meeting during which she proposed buying new equipment and reducing the time allocated for public comments from 5 to 3 minutes. She did not take any steps to address Board Policy. This behavior suggests that she is hesitant to listen to public input. At the Nov. 11, 2022, board meeting, TAD board member Rich Deotte (good guy) revealed that TAD was attempting to keep an investigative report from becoming public. He said that the report revealed criminal violations were committed by TAD personnel and that the public deserved to know about the details. The chairwoman did not want to discuss whether or not the report should be released. [See video here] In the same November board meeting, the Chairwoman admitted to breaking TAD board policy by changing the agenda behind closed doors to avoid discussing issues. [See the video & transcript here] The Chairwoman wanted to approve a large legal firm’s contract in excess of $1 million, while the TAD staff recommended another firm for $300,000, as [reported here] The Chairwoman voted against authorizing an outside audit of TAD and its software after then-state Senator Jane Nelson formally requested the board to investigate why the number of protests had drastically spiked at TAD. [See the article here]. The Chairwoman defended errors made by the chief appraiser in his handling of the situation where a TAD employee was caught filming up the skirt of a female tax agent. [See article here] The Chairwoman avoided getting additional information when notified at the May 13th board meeting and again at the June 10th board meeting that a top-level TAD executive made fraudulent TDLR complaints in TAD's name. Getting additional info may have avoided months of trouble and bad PR. [See this video of the June 10 board meeting here] On June 30, 2022, the Chairwoman presided over a public TAD board meeting containing open meetings act violations. The agenda was revised intentionally to delay the public comments portion of the meeting while TAD locked out over 300 people standing outside in near triple-digit heat for several hours failing to allow people to use the restroom or make accommodations for the handicapped and the elderly [See the article and video here] The Chairwoman initially agreed the chief appraiser would investigate himself regarding the handling of the TDLR complaints. After public pressure, the TAD board hired its own attorney to investigate. [See article here] In August 2022, the Chairwoman did not initially include the TDLR complaint on the board’s agenda, as promised, until another public outcry. [See article here] After receiving notice that the TDLR investigation concluded, stating there was no evidence of a violation, no attempt was made to state how the merits of the complaint were wrong. [See article here] Some CAD board members will justify their inaction by saying that the tax code limits their authority. Section 6.05(h) of the tax code expands the board's authority by enabling the board to mandate board approval for virtually any action. If Keller votes to recall, then TAD will escalate the issue to include additional tax entities (including the Commissioners Court) for a final vote.

The drama at TAD has been pretty wild. A lot has been happening, but I haven't talked about it much. As a taxpayer, it's frustrating that we can't hold TAD accountable for their actions directly. We don't get to vote on who is elected to the board of directors at TAD. Thankfully, the Keller City Council is stepping up by discussing the possibility of recalling the chairwoman of the TAD board of directors at its meeting on Tuesday night (2/21/23). This is a big move toward cleaning up the mess at TAD, which will benefit everyone in Tarrant county. I made this quick video to explain what led to this decision:   In order to have a productive appraisal district, we need to have a functioning board of directors with a chairperson who addresses problems head-on instead of ignoring them and hoping they go away. Here is a list of examples of how the chairwoman has mishandled serious issues during her tenure: The Chairwoman defended paying a TAD attorney over $32,000 per month [as reported here about this board meeting 2:26:00] The Chairwoman was given the responsibility of heading a subcommittee that would review Board Policy and handle matters concerning Boardroom audio. However, she only held one telephone meeting during which she proposed buying new equipment and reducing the time allocated for public comments from 5 to 3 minutes. She did not take any steps to address Board Policy. This behavior suggests that she is hesitant to listen to public input. At the Nov. 11, 2022, board meeting, TAD board member Rich Deotte (good guy) revealed that TAD was attempting to keep an investigative report from becoming public. He said that the report revealed criminal violations were committed by TAD personnel and that the public deserved to know about the details. The chairwoman did not want to discuss whether or not the report should be released. [See video here] In the same November board meeting, the Chairwoman admitted to breaking TAD board policy by changing the agenda behind closed doors to avoid discussing issues. [See the video & transcript here] The Chairwoman wanted to approve a large legal firm’s contract in excess of $1 million, while the TAD staff recommended another firm for $300,000, as [reported here] The Chairwoman voted against authorizing an outside audit of TAD and its software after then-state Senator Jane Nelson formally requested the board to investigate why the number of protests had drastically spiked at TAD. [See the article here]. The Chairwoman defended errors made by the chief appraiser in his handling of the situation where a TAD employee was caught filming up the skirt of a female tax agent. [See article here] The Chairwoman avoided getting additional information when notified at the May 13th board meeting and again at the June 10th board meeting that a top-level TAD executive made fraudulent TDLR complaints in TAD's name. Getting additional info may have avoided months of trouble and bad PR. [See this video of the June 10 board meeting here] On June 30, 2022, the Chairwoman presided over a public TAD board meeting containing open meetings act violations. The agenda was revised intentionally to delay the public comments portion of the meeting while TAD locked out over 300 people standing outside in near triple-digit heat for several hours failing to allow people to use the restroom or make accommodations for the handicapped and the elderly [See the article and video here] The Chairwoman initially agreed the chief appraiser would investigate himself regarding the handling of the TDLR complaints. After public pressure, the TAD board hired its own attorney to investigate. [See article here] In August 2022, the Chairwoman did not initially include the TDLR complaint on the board’s agenda, as promised, until another public outcry. [See article here] After receiving notice that the TDLR investigation concluded, stating there was no evidence of a violation, no attempt was made to state how the merits of the complaint were wrong. [See article here] Some CAD board members will justify their inaction by saying that the tax code limits their authority. Section 6.05(h) of the tax code expands the board's authority by enabling the board to mandate board approval for virtually any action. If Keller votes to recall, then TAD will escalate the issue to include additional tax entities (including the Commissioners Court) for a final vote. 

CNN Money is asking the question Is Texas America's Best State Economy?. Lets just look at some facts: Last year the state (GDP) grew 5.2% 3 of the 5 fastest growing US cities are in Texas and 5 out of the top 20 (Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Fort Worth) Housing is undervalued (compared to rents) Unemployment is 4.2% compared to the national average of 5.5% The median income is $75,000 which is 20% higher than the national median Median home price is $243,000 which is higher than the US average, but with incomes so high, it makes housing very affordable. Forbes says Texas is the best place to invest in real estate because housing shortages + low real estate values + high incomes = real estate values will rise (appreciate) More Americans are moving to Texas than any other state because of jobs and affordable housing Strong or growing industries: tech, transportation, real estate, mining, manufacturing, textiles, food Weak? really just 1: oil & gas Texas is the best city for jobs with 4 cities ranking in the top 10 Huffington says its time to buy a house now Most recent updates 6/26/15 - Texas is up 4% over 2014, making records, still the fastest growing in the nation despite suffering in the energy sector. They believe we're not in a bubble and still predicting record highs. Builders are focused on high end. 6/30/15 - Statistics show Texas real estate appreciates at 8.8% 8/14/15 - This report is from June, but I wanted to list it. The source is here:  http://recenter.tamu.edu/econ/ I could go on and on. The fact that Texas is considered the best place for investors (ie bottom feeders) to buy real estate is enough for me to feel confident that things are looking up. The investors aren't getting wild discounts on properties, they just know that today's high prices will look low compared to what home values will be in the near future. The only thing that points toward a bubble is the rate at which real estate is appreciating, however according to all of the other metrics, the appreciation is warranted. In fact, its long past due and should continue for some time. It may not keep up the same pace, but house prices will continue to climb. One thing to be aware of... news outlets will begin reporting on "slowed appreciation" and make it sound like we're crashing. When you hear the alarmist reports just keep in mind: slow appreciation is still appreciation. If home values begin to depreciate keep a sharp ear opened for the actual rate of depreciation. Make your decisions based on the facts and do your best to ignore the noise. Lets enjoy the fun ride. 

A board member revealed the existence of a previously undisclosed investigative full report that contains evidence showing TAD executives potentially committed the criminal offense of "Official Oppression." At the meeting, a board member proposed adding an agenda item for the next meeting (on 12/9) to discuss publicly releasing the report and potentially referring the report to the district attorney for investigation. Also, the chairwoman admitted to breaking the board policy by changing the agenda items previously agreed on by the board. The agenda for this Friday's TAD board meeting was recently posted. It appears no agenda item was included that would allow a discussion regarding releasing the full report. I invite you to attend the board meeting this Friday, Dec. 9 at 9am at TAD, 2500 Handley-Ederville Road, Fort Worth.  

For information on how to support Chandler, scroll down to the bottom of this page. My hope is that the TAD board meeting this Friday (11-11-2022) will be uneventful. However, I may need some support in case the goons attack again.  Attack 1 - the goons Public speaker card 1 Public speaker card 2 Attack 2 - the tax consultants that don't like me Tracy Stanley read from this document publically at the TAD meeting [pdf] Jamison O'Day read from this document publically at the TAD meeting [pdf] [Video] - Chandler confronts his accusers at the public meeting Attack 3 - the bogus TREC complaint How you can help 1) Spread the word on facebook, nextdoor.com, and the news media: investigates@wfaa.com, kdfw@foxtv.com, newstips@nbcdfw.com, news@ktvt.com, comments@wbap.com, comments@klif.com 2) Donate to help Chandler defend against attacks:  We have 3 options: Option 1) Scroll down to use our payment processor Option 2) Use this Paypal link Option 3) Mail checks to: Chandler Crouch, 9500 Ray White Rd, 2nd Floor, Fort Worth, TX 76244   Support Chandler Crouch  

TAD just posted their agenda for this Friday's 9am... Also, TAD just hired a Public Relations firm.  Here's my takeaway... TAD would rather spend your tax dollars hiring a P.R. firm instead of publically addressing how their Director of Residential Appraisals, Randy Armstrong, used county assets and his position of privilege to make false accusations and attack my professional license.  The meeting is this 9:00 AM this Friday (8/12/22) at 2500 Handley Ederville Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76118 If you can't make it to this Friday's meeting, but still want to express your concern, I will be emailing out a plan of action to make it easy to make your voice heard. If you aren't already on my email list and want to receive a copy of the plan of action I put together, join my email list here: Loading…

About the Attack: News Articles: 1) Property Tax Fighter Targeted by Beaurocrat  2) A Culture of Deception Video: TAD Board Meeting where they try to silence Chandler - this will make your blood boil Complaints: Actual TDLR complaints with Crouch's rebuttal Here's what you can do: 1. Share on Facebook, Nextdoor.com, in groups, with neighbors 2. Contact the media  ABC interviewed me, WFAA is emailing/texting, and Jess Hardin at Star-Telegram wrote this incredible article What we are doing wouldn’t be possible without the media that have brought this situation out of the shadows and into the light. I am very grateful to these folks: 03 July 2022 | FW Weekly | Edward Brown | Attempts by one TAD leader to intimidate a local Realtor are being met with a unified front calling for accountability. 01 July 2022 | WBAP | Hundreds of Homeowners Show Support at Tarrant County Appraisal Meeting for Embattled Fort Worth Realtor Under Investigation 30 June 2022 | NBC DFW Channel 5 | Lili Zheng | Hundreds Rally at Tarrant Appraisal Meeting for Realtor Under Investigation 30 June 2022 | Fort Worth Star-Telegram | Jess Hardin | Hundreds show support for Realtor who helps Fort Worth area homeowners protest appraisals 30 June 2022 |WFAA Channel 8 | Ariel Plasencia | Tarrant Appraisal District says employee did not have authority to file complaint against realtor to state licensing department 30 June 2022 | CBS News DFW | Nick Starling | Residents say complaints against Tarrant County realtor are 'totally ridiculous and bogus' 30 June 2022 | Fox 4 KDFW | Dionne Anglin | Tarrant Co. appraisal board employee files complaints against realtor helping people protest appraisals 30 June 2022 | Fort Worth Star-Telegram | The Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board | Realtor helps homeowners fight sky-high Tarrant property values. Was he a target for it? 30 June 2022 | 1080 KRLD | News Radio by 1080 KRLD | Tarrant County property tax consultant being investigated 29 June 2022 | CBS News DFW | J.D. Miles | North Texas realtor helps homeowners fight property tax appraisals - for free 29 June 2022 | WFAA Channel 8 | Paul Wedding | Property tax officials complained about a realtor protesting appraisals. Now they could be fired. 29 June 2022 | NBC DFW Channel 5 | Lili Zheng | Tarrant Appraisal District to Address Complaints Targeting Property Tax Consultant 29 June 2022 | Fort Worth Star-Telegram | Jess Hardin | He helps Fort Worth homeowners protest their appraisals. Now he’s under investigation 20 June 2022 | Fort Worth Report | Sandra Sadek | Tarrant Appraisal District to launch investigation into whether director used official position to submit a complaint against an individual 16 June 2022 | Texas Scorecard | Robert Montoya | Property Tax Fighter Targeted by Bureaucrat 16 June 2022 | FW Weekly | New allegations that a Tarrant Appraisal District staffer used county resources to intimidate a local Realtor raise questions about why top TAD leaders chose to ignore the problem. The news was also reposted on these following websites: 01 July 2022 | Spot On Texas | Hundreds Rally at Tarrant Appraisal Meeting For DFW Realtor Under Investigation 01 July 2022 | Head Topics | Hundreds Rally at Tarrant Appraisal Meeting For DFW Realtor Under Investigation 01 July 2022 | The Real Deal | Homeowners Show Up In Droves to Support Crusading Property Tax Consultant 29 June 2022 | Reported Crime | Tarrant Appraisal District Launches Complaint at Property Tax Expert Chandler's Thoughts As I have contemplated all this, it has become clear to me that God has a bigger purpose for me in this situation. I just know that so many people have been ignored or trampled on by people in positions of power. Most people have no choice but to walk away defeated. Not me... I believe I'm in this situation to serve a purpose.  I'm going to stand up and fight this so nobody else that comes after me has to endure the same thing. With your help, we will make our voice heard! They need to know that they can't just do this to whoever they want. Let's exercise that 1st Amendment like we're training for the Olympics!  

This is a link to the original article written on Fort Worth Weekly. Skyrocketing property valuations, culture of deception, and baseless allegations. What's the worst that could happen? On June 10, 2022, I stood up early in the meeting to address the five-member board of the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD). I had come to inform the board that I would not allow any further attacks by Randy Armstrong, TAD's director of home valuation. It is clear as day that Armstrong, and by extension, TAD do not appear to be my supporters. Mainly because I devote most of my spare time to assisting residents to challenge their exorbitant property values. This pushed Armstrong to file a complaint against me. During the meeting, I stated that there is an item on the agenda regarding the letter that my attorney addressed to the board. There haven't been many information regarding what's going on up until now. Someone filed complaints against my licensure as a property tax consultant in October 2021. I initially dismissed the complaint as unfounded. But for the board, this becomes significant because of who filed the complaint and how Jeff Law, the chief appraiser, strongly supports it. I went on to say that an investigator with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) purportedly indicated that the complaints were made by TAD, not a TAD employee. Armstrong's use of TAD letterhead and the personal knowledge revealed in his accusations indicate that he is allegedly utilizing TAD resources. Despite the fact that the topic was just discussed and not voted on, the board members decided that Law should look into it, in spite of having been aware of the allegations since November and has done no action to curb Armstrong's alleged misbehavior. Law, who usually deals with personnel issues, agreed to oversee the probe. However, that is a conflict of interest according to Gary Losada, a former TAD member. For Losada, Law should not be allowed to probe his own activities due to a history of withholding embarrassing facts from the board, something we've heard before in the form of a whistleblower complaint. We revealed details from a series of anonymous letters purportedly written by one or more TAD employees a year ago ("Shining a Light on TAD," June 2021). Law was singled out by the whistleblower, who claimed that the top appraiser used his position to conceal software flaws that resulted in incorrect property tax estimates over the years. It pains me to know that TAD's board of directors declined to hold Law accountable for failing to handle significant claims like mine. TAD's leadership may have set the appraisal district on a road that would eventually force the board of directors to evaluate if maintaining Law as chief appraiser is worth the financial risk.

This is a link to the original article written on Texas Scorecard by Robert Montoya. Dropping truth bombs and getting to the bottom of the truth: Who filed a case against me and how deep are the layers of this complaint? We all cannot deny that our property tax system is broken. This have made me realize my calling to serve the community. In 2017, we served 322 homeowners. In 2021, we have helped more than 21,000. This is more than $10 million worth of services for free. We are exerting so much effort to make the people's voices be heard and fix our taxing system. So, I think it is fair to say that these accusations are completely baseless.On November 1, 2021, I received a letter from the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) about a complaint against me. This is crazy. The letter contained three complaints; they alleged that last year, I had “intentionally misled members of the Tarrant Appraisal Review Board” (TARB) when I protested values assigned to properties by TAD. In one case, it alleged that I also misled “Tarrant County taxpayers” and is making a “mockery of the current tax system.” Nowhere in the document did it identify who specifically filed these complaints. Initially, records obtained by Texas Scorecard show Armstrong used TAD's name and address in mailings. However, the assigned TDLR investigator admitted that Randall "Randy" Armstrong, the director of residential appraisal at TAD, had filed the complaint.  He also used taxpayer-funded tools to interact with TDLR, such as his TAD email address. He signed his emails in such a way that it appeared he was working on behalf of TAD in an official role. It is also concerning to know that if he received the materials while operating in his capacity as a district employee and not through a public information act request, there is a significant conflict. TAD was served with an open documents request by Texas Scorecard, demanding any requests from Armstrong to the district for the properties named in his complaints that occurred in 2020 and 2021. TAD responded, "The district has no records responsive to your PIA request." Armstrong's initial complaint was submitted online with TDLR on October 5, 2021, at 3:19 p.m., according to records. Armstrong worked eight hours that day, according to TAD records, and entered the building at 7:54 a.m. With a timestamp of 3:06 p.m. on October 19, 2021, the second complaint was submitted. He worked 6.5 hours that day, with 1.5 hours given to sick leave to assist his mother, according to TAD records. He initially arrived on TAD property at 9:31 a.m., according to records. The date the third complaint was filed is unknown based on TDLR documents. With a timestamp of 11:36 a.m. on December 22, 2021, the fourth and last complaint was submitted. Armstrong worked eight hours that day, according to TAD records, and initially entered TAD at 7:53 am. On June 10, 2022, I confronted the TAD board and asked the following: Was it the Tarrant Appraisal District? Was it Randy Armstrong? How much does Jeff Law support this complaint? I told them that if I’m guilty, there are an army of people here that are guilty as well, and there’s a big problem that somebody didn’t speak up until this complaint was filed. If I’m innocent, what is the Tarrant Appraisal District okay with? Are they okay with the fact that somebody filed that complaint knowingly? Did Mr. Law know that this complaint was filed? Matthew Tepper, the board's attorney replied that TAD did not file it and nobody who had the authority of the appraisal district to file the complaint did it. Law stated that he has not seen the complaints and that is the first time he has seen a portion of the complaints. He later altered his mind, claiming that it wasn't until open records requests were submitted that he discovered the TAD address had been used on TDLR envelopes, and that Armstrong had signed them "Director of Residential Appraisal." He added that Armstrong had filed the complaint on his own and he did not direct Armstrong to submit a complaint against you. It is clear that TAD's lack of action on this implicates them. The board resolved to discuss the topic in closed session, which will be held in two months. I sincerely hope that we can all get to the bottom of this so we can all unite to serve the community.

I'm done waiting for someone else to fix this broken property tax system. I'm doing something about it, but I can't do it alone. I need your help. Sign up here: Loading…