Fort Bend Appraisal Review Board Staff and Pay
The Fort Bend County appraisal review board (ARB) is an important regulator against rising property taxes. It allowed taxpayers the chance to formally appeal their taxes against the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (FBCAD) with an impartial board to decide between the two. As of 2023, the ARB in Fort Bend was one of the highest paid in Texas, making it the fifth highest paid in the state. Whether it is a formal appeal to the ARB, an informal appeal, or even a lawsuit, when you are protesting your property taxes, be sure to join O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program(TM). Get your taxes protested every year with no upfront costs or hidden fees, and you will only pay if you lower your taxes.
Total Number of ARB Members - Fort Bend CountySource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| ARB Members | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Total Number | 30 | 30 | 35 | 38 | 38 | 39 | 37 | 45 | 54 | 30 | 31 |
| New ARB Members | 5 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 17 |
| Returning ARB Members | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 35 | 33 | 35 | 37 | 42 | 25 | 14 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since The appraisal district can’t possibly accurately value all the properties in the county. They need your help to correct over-valuation.
Fort Bend County Appraisal Review Board (ARB)
With the third-highest taxes in Texas, the people of Fort Bend County need every bit of help they can get protesting and lowering their taxes. The appraisal review board (ARB) is a neutral group that judges formal hearings between taxpayers and the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District (FBCAD). Taxpayers are able to present evidence as to why their property is overvalued, possibly allowing them to get a reduction in value and taxes. There were 38,590 formal appeals in 2023, the most ever to appear before the board.
If you need help in your property tax appeal, there is no better friend to turn to than O’Connor. For 50 years, O’Connor has been taking on FBCAD and other appraisal districts across Texas with the goal of helping every Texan lower their property taxes. As one of the largest property tax crusaders in the business, O’Connor has the people and firepower needed to score a victory for you on every step of the property tax protest journey.
Fort Bend County ARB Members
There were 30 members of the ARB as of 2023, the least since 2015. This was a drop of 24 from 2022, where the board had a record 54 members. Of the 2023 ARB members, 25 were returning, while only five were new to the board. This cut in personnel is certainly concerning, especially when weighed against the fact that there are more formal appeals to the ARB than ever before. This puts stress on a board that is already stretched thin.
How Many Days did ARB Hold Hearings in Fort Bend County?Source: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Days of ARB Hearings | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Days of ARB hearings | 92 | 79 | 65 | 59 | 58 | 53 | 63 | 55 | 67 | 56 | 55 |
Texas property owners should protest annually To avoid a surprise-increase in property taxes. This happens when the notice of value was lost. A large error in a home value is difficult to fix if not corrected through the normal appeal process.
How Many Days did Fort Bend County ARB Hold Hearings?
Because they must work until all appeals are heard, the ARB can work an unpredictable variety of days. In 2023, the ARB met for 56 days, the lowest since 2019. The days that the ARB meet have been on the decline over the past decade, thanks to a general growth in the size of the board. 2023 saw the most formal appeals ever in Fort Bend County, yet the board only met for 56 days. This would translate into 689.11 hearings per day.
ARB CompensationSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Per Diem Rate | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Lowest per diem to ARB | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $150 | $160 | $170 | $170 | $170 | $190 | $200 |
| Median per diem to ARB | $160 | $155 | $170 | $170 | $160 | $175 | $190 | $190 | $190 | $220 | $225 |
| Highest per diem to ARB | $180 | $180 | $180 | $200 | $170 | $200 | $250 | $250 | $250 | $250 | $250 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Texas property taxes are the largest tax payment for many Texans.
ARB Compensation
In 2023, the Fort Bend ARB was compensated with a total of $725,165. This made the Fort Bend County board the fifth highest paid in all of Texas. While plenty of criticisms can be leveled at FBCAD, funding for the ARB is not one of them. The highest paid members received $250 per day, the median was $220, while the lowest was $190.