Assessments Increase by 50 Percent or More On Over 1,500 Properties Across Fayette Co.

By ANDY BEHLEN  Last week the Record downloaded data from the Fayette County Appraisal District webside on every parcel of real property in the county. Of the 26,115 parcels published online, 1,509 showed an assessment increase of 50 percent or more. 625 properties doubled or more in assessment. 305 increased by 200 percent or more.

In some cases, the increases are due to new commercial construction and improvements, such as the Pilot Travel Center in Schulenburg, owned by Thomas C L Holdings Llc.

In a few cases, assessments rose because the property lost its agricultural classification. Such was the case for a 6.3 acre tract in Flatonia owned by AMK Properties, where the Amigo Travel Center is being built. Two other large tracts also made the top ten due to losing their ag status: a 965-acre tract near Kirtley owned by Chaparral Enterprises Ltd. and a 471-acre tract near Cistern owned by T. M. Cowan Estate.

Most of the properties in the top ten are owned by businesses, but one tract owned by a private couple made the list. The assessment of that property, a 232-acre tract on Guenther Road near La Grange, more-than-quadrupled in 2016. According to Fayette CAD records,  a 9,800 sq. ft. home was being built on the property and was 80 percent complete.

Lazy Q Ranch near Winchester topped the list of biggest assessment increases. The 2,113-acre tract along the Colorado River is used as a training facility for workers in the electric power and oil and gas industry. It’s assessment more-than-doubled, from just under $3.6 million in 2015 to nearly $7.5 million in 2016.

Last week two property owners with buildings on the square told the Record that they were considering rent increases after learning their appraisals doubled. That news might affect residential renters as well. 

According to Fayette CAD’s data, a mobile home park in La Grange made number seven on the list. Its assessment rose by over 800 percent, from $256,630 to $2.15 million. Two other nearby mobile home parks saw their assessment rise between 660 and 450 percent. In all likelihood, those assessment increases will result in higher tax bills for the property owners, who must either absorb the cost or pass it on as higher rents.

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