KVOA

Posted: Nov 19, 2009 6:13 PM
Updated: Nov 19, 2009 10:00 PM

CORPUS CHRISTI - It's going to cost the Nueces County Appraisal District $7.3 million to get a new building.
$3 million has already been collected from their taxed entities over the past five years, but Nueces County commissioners say that money doesn't belong to them.
"What we tried to do over these five years, and I think it's really important to understand this is to build up a reserve," said Chief Appraiser Ollie Grant.
That reserve comes from taxed entity money that didn't get used. Grant says the appraisal district sent out letters telling the taxed entities they had 30 days to claim that surplus.
"Entities did not respond after we mailed out the letters to them in the 30 days, so after the 30 days it became obligated," said Grant.
Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal says that goes against the state tax code.
"I have a copy of the letter and it simply says we're gonna put the fund into our building fund reserve or whatever that word was, unless we hear form you in 30 days, well that's not even a part of the statute. The statute says you will return or credit the money," said Neal.
The Nueces County District Appraisals Office thought that none of their entities had a problem with it, until they received a letter from the county judge.
In his letter, Neal is asking for the county's share, $600,000 to be returned.
"They just need to be open, transparent, and fully disclose what's there so the taxing entities can make an informed decision about the taxpayers money, that's all the county commissioners and I want," Neal stated.

In addition, James Duerr, a member of the appraisal district board, held a news conference Thursday evening. He says the board needs to improve communications with the variouis entities it represents.

Duerr is also opposed to a new facility.

Duerr said, "I have always been against the new building. My opinion is we had some money in the building fund and we should use it to fix whatever needs to be fixed."