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, [email protected]
Michelle French, [email protected]
Cathy C. Talcott, [email protected]
Linda Bridge, [email protected]
Randy H. Riggs, CPA, PCCSecretary-TreasurerMcLennanCountyrandy.riggs@co.mclennan.tx.us
Ronnie KeisterImmediatePastPresidentLubbockCountyrkeister@co.lubbock.tx.us
Monte Shaw, [email protected]
Tammy McRae, [email protected]
Diane Bolin, [email protected]
Bruce Stidham, [email protected]
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,[email protected]
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
