Helloeveryfromcold,coldEastTexas.IhopeeveryoneenjoyedtheV.G.YoungconferenceasmuchasIdid.Iwouldliketogiveabigthankyoutoallwhoservedtomakeitsuchasuccessfulconference.Iknowitlookseasybuttherearesomanyworkinginthebackground,unseenthatmakeitwhatitis.

Iwouldliketocongratulatethe2017/2018boardmembers.Iamlookingforwardtoservingwiththesegreatpeopleforthenextyear.TherewereanumberofpeopleearningtheircertificationsattheV.G.YoungconferenceandtheHoustonconference.Congratulationstothesepeoplewhoworkedhardforthisachievement.

Iwouldalsoliketogiveaspecialthankstothe2017LegislativeCommittee,chairedbyKristyRoe,Ro’VinGarrettandBruceElfantfortheawesomejobtheydidduringthissessionanawesomejobatkeepingallofusinformedasthingsdeveloped.Andthankstoeveryonewhoservedonthiscommitteeasmembersandtheothercommittees.Wecouldneverdoitwithoutyou.Kudostoallinvolved.

The County Tax $tatement The Of f icial Publ icat ion of the Tax-Assessor Col lector ’s Associat ion of Texas

Letter from the President

(continued on page 2)

Wearenowinfullswingofplanningour2018conferenceinFrisco.Ibelieveitwillbeoneofthegreatestconferencesoffered.ThisconferencewillbeheldonJune3-7,2018attheEmbassySuitesHotel&ConferenceCenterinFrisco!RegistrationwillopeninMarch2018!Pleasemakeplanstoattend.Youwon’tbedisappointed.

Also,asyouwillnoticebelow,Ihaveanewname.MikeandIweremarriedinSeptember…..ofcourse,hadtodoitbeforetaxseason.Hehasn’tgottenusedtothehustleandbustleyet,buthe’scatchingon.

Lastly,mythemeforthisyearis“WorkingBetterTogether.”Iknowtherearelotsofgoodopinionsondifferentissuesthatariseandwhileweneedtoconsidereachandeveryoneoftheseopinions,weneedtorememberthatweareallinthistogetherwithacommongoal.Workingbettertogetheristheultimategoalinmakingthisassociationgreatorgreaterthanitalreadyis.Thankyoufordoingyourpartinachievingthisgoal.

Sincerely,

TeriGarveyHanksAndersonCountyTaxAssessorPresident,TaxAssessor-Collector’sAssoc.

Volume 18, Issue 1 January 2018

Mrs. Teri Garvey Hanks

Texas Department of Motor VehiclesSubmitted by: Caroline Love, Division Director, TxDMV Government and Strategic Communications

2017wasabusyyearattheTexasDepartmentofMotorVehicles(TxDMV).Inthepastyearwecelebratedthe100thanniversaryofthelicenseplateandlaunchedafirst-of-its-kindsystemthatmovedthemotorvehicleandsalvagedealerlicensingsystemonline.Wereplacedover2,975countyworkstationsand2,973printerswitha97.7%countysatisfactionrating.Inaddition,whenHurricaneHarveyhit,thedepartmentcoordinatedwithGovernorAbbottonthesuspensionofcertainstatutesrelatedtotheenforcementofregistrationandtitlelawsfor48affectedcounties.SinceNov.30,2017,TxDMVhasprocessedover200,000salvageandnon-repairabletitles,manyofwhichweretheresultofdamagecausedbyHarvey.Aswebeginanew

year,TxDMVisworkingtocontinuecreating,developing,andenhancingtools,processes,andsystemsinordereffectivelypartnerwithtax-assessorcollectorsinservingthemotoringpublic.

BelowisasummaryofafewofthecurrentareasinwhichTxDMVisfocusedaswebegin2018.

Registration And Titling System (Rts)TxDMVcontinuestodeploynewreleasestotherefactored

RegistrationandTitlingSystem(RTS)inordertoaccommodatenewlegislationandupgradefunctionality.SoonTxDMVwill

The County Tax $tatement

page 2 • Volume 18, Issue 1 January 2018

The County Tax $tatement

The County Tax Statement is the officialpublication of the Tax Assessor-Collector’sAssociationofTexasandispublishedquarterlybeginninginJanuaryeachyearforthebenefitof its members and interested contributingparties. The purpose of this organization isto promote professional standards, to unifyactions for the benefit of its constituents, tobe aware and participate in the legislativeprocess, and to provide a vehicle to educateits members in the proper conduct of theconstitutionalofficeof theAssessor-CollectorofTaxes.

Advertisements in this publication are paidand in no way imply endorsement by thisassociationofproductsorservices.

ArticlesforprintingorinformationonobtainingdisplayadsofratesshouldbedirectedtoTACANewsletter,TeresaMcCoy,HoodCountyTaxAssessor, 1410 W. Pearl St., Granbury, TX76048,by the10thdayprior to themonthofpublication.StatementsoffactandopinionaretheresponsibilityoftheauthorsaloneandarenotnecessarilytheopinionoftheeditingstafforTACABoard.

The 2017/2018 Board of Directors

PresidentTeri Garvey Hanks, PCC, Anderson County

President-ElectMichelle French, PCC, Denton County

Vice President ExternalCathy Talcott, PCC, Comal County

Vice President InternalLinda Bridge, PCAC, Bee County

Secretary-TreasurerRandy H. Riggs, CPA, PCC, McLennan County

Past PresidentRonnie Keister, Lubbock County

DirectorsMonte Shaw, PCC, Wise CountyTammy McRae, PCC, Montgomery CountyDiane Bolin, PCC, Kerr CountyBruce Stidham, PCAC, Grayson County

Layout & PrintingTexas Association of Counties

Editing StaffTexas Association of Counties

EditorBillie Page, PCC, CTOP, Angelina County

deployanupdatetoRTSthatwillallowcountyuserstoincludeinactiveandarchivedrecordswhensearchingforrecordsbycustomername.ThisupdatealsoincludesthenewPackageDeliverylicenseplate,designedforpackagedeliveryservicecompanieswhowanttoutilizesmallvehiclessuchasgolfcarts,utilityvehicles,neighborhoodelectricvehicles,etc.,forpackagedelivery.Additionally,therearenewspecialtylicenseplatesandvoluntarycontributionoptions.MoreinformationonthisRTSreleasewillbeavailableinupcomingtrainingwebinarsandreleasenotes.

eTAG/webDEALER UpdateCurrentlyTxDMVisworkingtomoveeTAG(thesystemusedforBuyerTags)into

webDEALER(thetitleapplicationsystem).Oncecomplete,dealersorothermotorvehicleindustrylicenseeswilllogintowebDEALERtocreateBuyerTags(orothertags).IftheyarealsowebDEALERusers,theywillbeabletosubmitatitleapplicationwithoutloggingintoadifferentsystem.Additionally,userswillbeabletopayforBuyerTagsforoutofstatepurchasersonlineviacreditcard.Formoreinformationvisitwww.TxDMV.gov/dealers/eTAG/resources.

New Division Coming To TxdmvThedepartmentispleasedtoannouncetheestablishmentofthenewCompliance

andInvestigationsDivision(CID).ThegoalofCIDistostrengthenoureffortstopreventanddetectfraud,wasteandabuse.CIDwillprocesscomplaintsandinvestigateallegationsoffraudrelatedtomotorvehicletitleandregistration,providesupportforlawenforcement,andworkoncomplianceeducationandinitiativeswithourregionalservicecentersandtaxassessor-collectors’offices.

ThedepartmenthashiredTimMenketoserveasthedirectorofCID.TimwillstartonTuesday,January2,2018,andhebringsover25yearsofexperienceinthefieldoffraud,waste,andabusewithhim.Oneofhisfirstordersofbusinesswillbetohireadditionalstafftohelpthedepartmentachieveitsgoals.TimwillalsoinheritseveralkeystaffersfromtheVehicleTitlesandRegistration(VTR)divisionincludingtheFieldServiceRepresentatives(FSRs)andthedepartment’ssoletitleinvestigator,RobertFoster.

Sunset ReviewTxDMViscurrentlyundergoingitsfirstSunsetreview.Overthepastfewmonths,

departmentstaffhavemetwithSunsetstafftoprovideamorein-depthlookatTxDMV’sfunctions,lookattheoverallpurpose,goalsandobjectivesofeachofourprogramsandhoweachoftheprogramsaccomplishesthedepartment’sgoals.Sunsetstaffwillalsobereachingouttoourstakeholders,includingthetaxassessor-collectors,inanefforttobetterunderstandTxDMVandhowweservethemotoringpublic.

Aftergatheringasmuchinformationasnecessary,theSunsetreviewteamwillputtogetheraStaffReportthatmakesspecificrecommendationsforpositivechange.SunsetanticipatesthattheStaffReportwillbepublishedthisspring,potentiallyasearlyasApril.TxDMVhaspostedinformationabouttheSunsetreviewprocessonourwebsite,includingalinktoSunset’swebsitewheremembersofthepubliccanviewourSelfEvaluationReport.WehavealsoprovidedinformationabouthowindividualscancontacttheSunsetCommissiondirectlyiftheywouldliketosharetheirthoughtsaboutthedepartment.

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (continued from page 1)

The County Tax $tatement

page 3 • Volume 18, Issue 1 January 2018

Our Board of DirectorsWherewouldwebewithoutourwonderfulboardofdirectors?Ourassociationisthegreatonethatitisbecauseofour

leaders,aswellasourdedicatedmembership.Our2017-2018TACABoardofDirectorsare:

Teri Garvey Hanks, PCCPresidentAndersonCountytgarvey@co.anderson.tx.us

Michelle French, PCCPresident-ElectDentonCountymichelle.french@dentoncounty.com

Cathy C. Talcott, PCCVicePresident-ExternalsComalCountytalcoc@co.comal.tx.us

Linda Bridge, PCACVicePresident-InternalBeeCountylinda.bridge@co.bee.tx.us

Randy H. Riggs, CPA, PCCSecretary-TreasurerMcLennanCountyrandy.riggs@co.mclennan.tx.us

Ronnie KeisterImmediatePastPresidentLubbockCountyrkeister@co.lubbock.tx.us

Monte Shaw, PCCWiseCountymonte.shaw@co.wise.tx.us

Tammy McRae, PCACMontgomeryCountytammy.mcrae@mctx.org

Diane Bolin, PCCKerrCountydianeb@co.kerr.tx.us

Bruce Stidham, PCACGraysonCountystidhamb@co.grayson.tx.us

Our Board of Directors working for us at the board meeting prior to the V.G. Young Conference in San Marcos.

The County Tax

page 4 • Volume 18, Issue 1 January 2018

83rd Annual Conference of Tax Assessor-Collectors Association of Texas

June 5-8, 2017 • Houston

InJune,wegatheredindowntownHoustonforour83rdAnnualConference.TheconferencewasheldatthebeautifulHyattRegency.Ouroff-sitefunctionwasattheNASASpaceCenter.

OurhostthisyearwastheHonorableAnnHarrisBennet,TaxAssessor-Collector,HarrisCounty.TheTaxAssessor-CollectorsAssociationPresidentfortheConferencewastheHonorableRonnieKeister,

TaxAssessor-Collector,LubbockCounty.ThankstoourSponsors,withoutwhomwewouldnotbeabletohavesuchgreatconferences:

Diamond Sponsors:Linebarger,Goggan,Blair,SampsonLLP Perdue,Brandon,Fielder,Collins&Mott,LLPPlatinum Sponsor: TexasAssociationofCounties

And,ofcourse,ourGold,Silver,andBronzeSponsors:THANK YOU!

The County Tax $tatement

page 5 • Volume 18, Issue 1 January 2018

The County Tax $tatement

page 6 • Volume 18, Issue 1 January 2018

Mr.LewisScottPorteristhe2017recipientoftheDistinguishedServiceAwardatthe83rdAnnualConferenceoftheTaxAssessor-CollectorsAssociation.HehasservedthetaxpayersofWheelerCountyfor18years.HehasservednineyearsontheTACAboardofdirectors,manycommitteesandasaninstructorforTACA.Inaddition,hehasservedasGeneralChairmanofhislocalSt.Patrick’sDayassociation.HeismarriedtowifeLenafor37years.HisdaughterisAmandaPorterBrown,hisson-in-lawisDavidBrown,andhisgranddaughterisMissHaileyMayBrown.Wethankhimforhisservicetoourassociation.

Honorable Lewis Scott PorterTax Assessor-Collector

Wheeler County

Distinguished Service Award

Ro’Vin Garrett is Guest Speaker at the November Women Professionals in Government Luncheon

IserveontheBoardandhadthepleasureofaskingandthenintroducingTACAPastPresident,Ms.Ro’VinGarrett,TAC,BrazoriaCounty,atourDecember7,2017meeting.HerspeechandPowerPointpresentationfocusedontherichhistoryofTexasCountyGovernmentandtherelationshipwithelectedofficialsandthecommunitiestheyserve.Shewasahit!

Submittedby:Vicki Brown-Sobecki, PCCStaffDevelopmentComplianceDivisionOfficeofAnnHarrisBennettTaxAssessor-CollectorandVoterRegistrar

Women Professionals In GovernmentWelcomes Brazoria County Tax Assessor-Collector Ro’vinGarrett as our November guest speaker.Ro’vin Garrett took office as Brazoria County TaxAssessor-Collector on January 1, 2001. Prior to beingelected, Garrett was employed by Brazoria CountyTax Office for 16 years. The daughter of a formercounty judge, for several years she served as theofficial “courthouse tour guide” for Brazoria County and has given numerouspresentations

to school children and adults on the history, function, andpurpose of county government. With 32 years of county governmentexperience, Garrett is uniquely qualified to talk about the office of tax assessor-collector and county government in general.

page 7 • Volume 18, Issue 1 January 2018

The County Tax $tatement

AgreatbigCONGRATULATIONStoallrecipientsofcertificatesofcompletionofthecourseworkdesignedtoearnProfessionalCountyAssessor-Collector(PCAC),ProfessionalDeputyAssessor-Collector(PDAC),CountyTaxOfficeProfessional(CTOP),andProfessionalCountyCollector(PCC)designations.

91 TACA Members Receive Certificates of Completion at the 2017 V.G. Young Conference in San Marcos

Tax Assessor-Collector of the Year

Mr. Bruce Elfant, Tax Assessor-Collector, Travis County

Nominees for Tax Assessor-Collector of the Year

Left to right, Gwenda Tschirhart, Bandera County, San Antonio Region Kevin Kieschnick, Nueces County, Coastal Bend Region Kim Sweet, Rockwall County, Dallas RegionBruce Elfant, Travis County, Bluebonnet RegionJustin K. Carothers, Coryell County, Central Texas RegionRon Wright, Tarrant County, Fort Worth Region

The County Tax $tatement

page 8 • Volume 18, Issue 1 January 2018

ManythankstoV.G.YoungCouncilofGovernmentsforanotheramazingconferenceforTaxAssessor-CollectorsofTexas.TheV.G.YoungstaffandourTACAprogramcommitteeputtogetheraneducationalandinformativeprogram,andthekeynotespeakerwasMr.JimBearden,whospokeonEthicalLeadershipandHeroicService.

Again,ourwonderfulconferenceswouldnotbepossiblewithoutoursponsors,whomwerealsohonoredataluncheonduringtheconference.

V. G. Young ConferenceNov. 14-16, 2017 • San Marcos

The County Tax $tatement

page 9 • Volume 18, Issue 1 January 2018

Doesthisbabylookfamiliar?Heisthemuchlovedgrandsonoftwoawesometaxassessor-collectors:LuanneCaraway,HaysCounty(left)andCathyTalcott,ComalCounty(right).

OnJuly26,CordWilliamCarawaywasborntoCristinaTalcottCarawayandClaytonCaraway.ClaytonisthesonofHaysCountyTACLuanneCarawayandCristinaisthedaughterofComalCountyTACCathyTalcott.Whilediscussingtheirchildrenataneventseveralyearsago,thetwoTACscametotherealizationthattheirchildrenhavethesamevalues,sotheyrecommendedtheirkids“checkout”eachotheronFacebook.Threeyearslatertheyweremarried,andjustcelebratedthebirthoftheirfirstchild!Seewhatbeingtaxassessor-collectorscangetyou?Twogratefulanddeliriouslyhappymatchmakerswhosharethesamegrandbaby!

Proud TACs Share the Same Grandbaby!

The County Tax $tatement

page 10 • Volume 18, Issue 1 January 2018

Angie Young – Mother PassingMotherpassedawayChristmasDaywitheachofherdaughtersbesideher.What

ablessingtowatchherlastbreathasshegainedherwingsandwhatagloriousdaytohavewalkedhandandhandwithherFather.AlliscalmasitcanbehereinCassCounty.Asyouwellknow,Ihavebeenoutforsomedays.Itisstillbitterlycoldandwearekeepingourwatertricklingtopreventburstingofpipes.Hopealliswellwithyouandyours.

HopingforaHappyNewYear!

Angela Young, PCCCassCountyTaxAssessor-CollectorPOBox870Linden,TX75563903-756-5513/Fax:903-756-7431

Flash Mob in Austin

Justbeforetheholidaysourofficelobbywas“flashmobbed”bytheMcNeilHighSchoolChoirtothesurpriseanddelightofourcustomersandemployeesalike.Forseveralminutesallattentionwasfocusedonawonderfulholidayperformance.Whosaysthereisnojoyinataxoffice?

— Bruce Elfant, Tax Assessor-Collector, Travis County

The County Tax $tatement

page 11 • Volume 18, Issue 1 January 2018-

Committee Reports from Cathy Talcott

From Linda BridgeThereissomenewinformationontheTACAwebpage.Under

theAssociationCommitteestab,thereisanewCommitteeReportsspreadsheetthatcommitteechairscanaccesstocompletetheirreportsandturnthemintotheappropriateofficer.Also,thereareCommitteeProcedureformsthatprovideasnapshotofwhateachcommitteedoes.TheseareusefultoolsfornewTAC’scominginorevenusoldTAC’stoseewhatthesecommitteesdo.

IdohaveanupdatefromtheBylawscommittee.TherewillbeabylawschangethatwillbevotedonattheJune2018TACAbusinessmeeting.ThischangewillbepostedontheTACAwebsite30dayspriortotheJuneconference.

HappyNewYear!!

Linda

Linda G. Bridge, PCAC, CSTABeeCountyTaxAssessor-CollectorPOBox1900,Beeville,TX78104361.621.1554Office361.358.5417Faxlinda.bridge@co.bee.tx.us

Audit CommitteeTheAuditCommitteemetinAugusttoconduct

aninternalreviewoftheTACAfinancialsfortheFY2016-2017.PertheTACAbylaws,theCommitteeiscomprisedofInternalVPLindaBridge(substitutedbyBruceStidham),ExternalVPCathyTalcott,andTACAmember-at-largeLarryGaddes.ThecommitteereportedtotheBoardofDirectorsthatallfinancialswereinorder,andappreciatedthegoodworkofSecretary-TreasurerRandyGriggs.

Comptroller Liaison CommitteeComptrollerLiaisonCommitteeChairCathyTalcott

conductedameetingattheV.G.YoungConferenceinNovemberwith23inattendance.TalcottwalkedthegroupthroughtheTruthinTaxationportionoftheComptroller’swebsitetogatherinputonwaysthewebsitecouldbemorehelpfulforTACsduringtheTNTprocess.Therewasgoodfeedbackfromthegroupwithseveralsuggestionsoffered.Followingtheholidays,Talcottandvice-chairLarryGaddeswillarrangeforameetingwiththeComptroller,alongwithafewofthecommittee’smembers,todiscussthesesuggestions.

Cathy C. Talcott, PCC, CTOPTaxAssessor-CollectorComalCounty205N.SeguinAve.NewBraunfels,TX78130830-221-1353talcoc@co.comal.tx.us

Welcome New Tax Assessor-Collectors!

JamieJordanisthenewJonesCountyTaxAssessor-Collector.ShewasswornintoofficeonJanuary1,2018.JamiereplacesMaryAnnLoveladywhoretiredafter18.5yearsofservice.PleasewelcomeJamie!

ForTACAUseOnly:____________________CircleAmountPaid:$85 $40 $0

TACA MEMBERSHiP APPLiCATiON

Name:

Title:

OfficeMailingAddress:

OfficeStreetAddress:_______________________________________________________

BusinessPhone: FAX:

County:

YearTakingOffice:

CommitteeInterests:

TACADues: RegularMember(Electedtaxassessor–collector) $85 AffiliateMember(taxrelatedbusinessvendor) $85 AssociateMember(Deputytaxassessor–collector) $40 LifeMember(Retiredwith12yearsinoffice) $0

Enclosedismycheckpayablefor$__________ annualdues.

Please make check payable to TAC and mail to: Texas Association of Counties

Attn: TACA MembershipPO Box 2131, Austin, TX 78768