Wow, I am BLOWN AWAY! I started ringing the alarm bell about the TAD election and invited anyone interested to send emails. THOUSANDS of you responded!

It was really, really encouraging to me to see so many people respond. But it also showed just how many people are desperate for our property tax system to improve. I’m fired up!

I have mixed feelings about how the election ended.

Election Results

Four out of the five incumbents were re-elected. The only newcomer to the board was former Fort Worth City Councilman Jungus Jordan. 

The board members serving at TAD for the next two years are Tony Pompa, J.R. Martinez, Rich DeOtte, Kathryn Wileman, Jungus Jordan

I stood before the board this past Friday and implored them to stand up for the taxpayers.

Giving TAD a Piece of my Mind

The Tarrant County Appraisal District (TAD) is having an election to decide who will oversee its organization. 

Virtually nobody knows this election even exists.

If we did nothing, this election would come and go. Nobody would notice. Nothing would change.

We don't get to vote in this election, but we can make darn sure that we make our voices heard. The people that do get to vote need to know that we're watching and we care.

My solution:

I personally invited each candidate to sit down and record an interview with me. Five took me up on the offer.

Many candidates either don't stand a chance at winning or don't give me confidence they will stand up for taxpayers quite like Rich DeOtte and Gary Losada. So, let's help elect DeOtte and Losada. 

Update:

The voting period has ended. The winners are: Rich DeOtte, Jungus Jordan, Kathryn Wileman, JR Martinez, Pompa

I will provide more information shortly

[scroll down to see TAD candidate interviews]

Right now, the Tarrant County Appraisal District (TAD) is holding an election to decide who oversees the organization. TAD is the same entity that sets your property tax value and sends out the blue value notice every April. If you care about how TAD conducts its business, then you need to pay attention to this election.

This election is virtually secret and it has a pretty colorful history. 

In the past five years since I volunteered to protest for thousands of people, I have discovered this secret election filled with a conflict of interest and loopholes that allowed a few to influence the election.

I have testified in Austin again and again and worked with lawmakers (Rep. Matt Krause and others) to help change the law (law 1, law 2).  

Now, what's still missing is education, accountability, and transparency. 

That's why I'm taking action! 

I offered for each of TAD candidates to record an interview with me so that I could share it with you. All the interviews are posted below. 

Here's what you can do:

1. Scroll down and watch the candidate interviews
2. Pick the candidate you like
3. Search to find contact information (click here) for your locally elected representatives
4. Send an email like this: Dear Councilmember, Please vote for <insert candidate name> in the TAD board of directors election. Thank you for serving our community. 

(in order according to who was first to agree to an interview request)

Gary Losada - Resume

Rich DeOtte - Resume

Rockie Gilley - Resume

Wes Bullock - Resume

James "Jim" Austin - Resume

These TAD BOD candidates have either declined or were unavailable to interview:

Tony Pompa, Kathryn Wilemon, Jungus Jordan, Jim Griffin, Mike Leyman, Joe Ralph "JR" Martinez

More information can be found here about the TAD Board of Directors.

The board is appointed by the taxing units to two-year terms. It consists of five directors and the county assessor-collector, who is not a voting member of the board.

Your monthly electricity bill is often the second-largest expense after your mortgage. Making some simple changes around your home could add up to big savings. 

Here are 27 tips to cut energy costs 

1. Shop for better electricity rates

I saved a TON of money with Energy Ogre, so I welcomed the company as a sponsor. Average savings is $558/year. Take 2 minutes to see how much they can save you. When you sign up, the company contributes to our mission to fight the property tax system. I feel the love. It’s beautiful. Take 2 minutes to get a free quote-click here

2. Cut Out Phantom Energy

Your TV, computer, Internet router, and kitchen appliances are making your electric bill higher. This is because they are continually working even while off.  Use power strips and turn them off when electronics are not in use.

3. Use Dimmer Switches

Dimmer switches restart every 120 seconds, and the restart isn’t noticeable to the human eye. This essentially modulates how much energy is needed, saving energy and money!

4. Line Dry Laundry

Dryers are energy hogs, and cutting them out of your home routine can save you quite a bit of money.

5. Keep Your Fridge and Freezer Full

The food and drinks act as insulation, keeping your refrigerator from working so hard to cool things off. Energy saved!

6. Keep Refrigerator Coils Clean

Dirty coils make your fridge work harder. Check them every three months and keep them clean to save electricity and lengthen the life of your refrigerator.

7. Use Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans help circulate air throughout your home and ease the job of your air conditioner.

8. Get an Attic Ceiling Fan

You may notice how hot it gets in the attic or on the top floor of your home in the summer. Having an attic ceiling fan can reduce hot air and allow your home to be cooled faster.

9. Keep the Sun Out

Direct sunlight can quickly crank up the energy consumption of your air conditioner. Close blinds and curtains on the sunny side of your home.

10. Get Annual HVAC Maintenance

To ensure your HVAC is operating efficiently, get annual maintenance done on it. The inspection can identify any wear and tear that could be causing your HVAC system to be working harder than needed.

11. Clean HVAC Filters

Cleaning your HVAC filter also promotes efficiency. Cleaning or changing your HVAC filter every 30 days can help you cut electricity costs. The added bonus is that your home will also have cleaner air flowing through it. This is a definite bonus during allergy season!

12. Turn Off Your Stove

This is an easy tip to implement to help cut electricity costs. When you use your electric stovetop or oven, turn it off a few minutes before your food is done. The heat built up can continue to cook your food while you cook off a few dollars a year from your electric bill.

13. Use LED Lighting

LED lights can reduce your lighting energy consumption by 90 percent. This can save you quite a bit of money long term!

14. Wash and Dry Dishes by Hand

Limiting any appliance use in the kitchen, including your dishwasher, will ultimately save you money.

15. Turn Off Dishwasher Heat Dry

If you can’t ditch the dishwasher, or if washing dishes by hand is not as cost-effective as your dishwasher,  turn off the heat dry selection on your dishwasher.

16. Insulate Electrical Outlets

Install electrical outlet sealers behind outlets and switches to stop hot and cold air leaks. Want to go the extra mile? Place child-safety plugs into outlets after insulation is installed.

17. Install Storm Doors

Storm doors can save you a little bit on your electric bill. Installing them also makes you eligible for a $500 tax credit. The average storm door costs around $200, but if you only need two or three of them, the tax credit alone makes it worth it.

18. Do Energy Saving Landscaping

Planting trees to shade your home and your air conditioning unit can help naturally insulate your home, thus saving energy on heating and cooling. Decreasing the amount of rock and cement is also another great way to combine landscaping with energy efficiency.

19. Use Cold Water for Laundry

Do you do your laundry using hot water? This is not uncommon, but it is also a cause for higher electric bills. Your washer’s energy consumption can be 90 percent less if you use cold water instead of hot. This is due to the decreased cost in heating the water. A cost saving method to definitely consider!

20. Go Low-Flow During Showers

Less water flow during showers means less water to heat. This makes installing low-flow shower heads an easy way to start cutting your electric bill in half.

21. Buy Some Dryer Balls

It’s no surprise that running your dryer less will help you cut electricity costs. Dryer balls are great for cutting drying times. In fact, dryer balls can cut drying time by 25 percent. If line drying your clothes is not possible, dryer balls are a great energy saving alternative.

22. Install Motion Sensors

Lighting can drain energy fast, and it can be annoying to keep turning lights on and off as you move around your home. Installing light motion sensors can help. 

23. Stop Preheating Your Oven

Contrary to many recipes, food that requires a lengthy cook time doesn’t actually need or benefit from a preheated oven. 

24. Get More Use Out of Your Microwave

Microwaves use less electricity than your oven. And they also do not heat up your home, which is good if you are trying to reduce cooling costs in the summer.

25. Turn Your Lights Off

This is a must if you want to cut electricity costs. Turning off your lights will reduce energy consumption related to lighting, as well as energy consumption used to cool your home. This is because most light bulbs produce heat, even CFL bulbs.

26. Maintain Ducts and Vents

Yearly checks on your ducts and vents will help you identify any leaks and fix them. This can help you save big on your electric bill.

27. Turn Off Your Refrigerator Ice Maker

Did you know that you could decrease your refrigerator’s energy consumption by turning off its ice maker? That’s right. By eliminating the ice maker you can decrease your fridge’s energy use by as much as 20 percent.

Thanks to Discover HomeSelfe and Real Simple Energy for many of these great tips 

Take 5 minutes to call your lender… no really, it's easy. If your monthly mortgage payment has increased in the past year or so, it’s likely because your taxes and/or insurance have gone up. Your mortgage company likely uses a 12-month payment plan by default to pay off your escrow shortage, but they usually don't tell you that you have additional options. To help lower your payment, call your mortgage company and simply ask them if you can pay out the escrow shortage over 2-3 years. Most of the time they just say yes without any issue or pushback. A 10-minute phone call could drop your payment by hundreds. 

Ask the Tax Assessor’s Office to split your tax payment throughout the year. The first installment must be paid on or before Nov. 30. The second installment must be paid on or before June 30. Those who qualify for the over 65 or disability exemptions may pay quarterly: Jan. 31, March 31, May 31 and July 31. Taxes not paid by Jan. 31 will incur penalties and interest unless the half payment or a quarterly installment is applied to the account. Contact the tax assessor before Nov. 30. 

Triple check to make sure your exemptions are in place. The appraisal district can actually cancel your exemptions anytime without a great reason, such as, if mail they send you is returned undeliverable. This video shows how to verify your homestead exemption is in place in Tarrant County.  If you find out you need to file, this video provides the application link and, step by step instructions.

Refinance your mortgage. Money is on sale! Interests rates are low and even lower. Get free quotes from your bank, an online company, and an independent lender. Then you can confidently choose who will meet the needs of your unique situation. We always recommend and trust Alex Varela, a branch manager for

Prime Lending. He's innovative and magical to get you into your dream home. Fill out this form if you would like more information.

Ask us for a free insurance quote. Your house payment includes taxes, insurance, principle, and mortgage interest. If your payment has increased, there is a good chance your insurance rates have increased. Many people are significantly overpaying. Talk with one of our expert insurance agents on staff to get you a free quote for home and auto. We shop A-rated insurance carriers to get the best coverage for best rate. Fill out this form .

Reduce your utility costs. Chandler saved a bunch of money with Energy Ogre, so he partnered with them to offer the same service to you. 

Reduce your utility consumption.

Your monthly electricity bill is often the second-largest expense after your mortgage. Making some simple changes around your home could add up to big savings. We have 27 tips to cut energy costs here.

Click Here for Crime Rate Map Fort Worth Tx

Example of crime map

Buying a house can be stressful, especially if you don't know the area well. Before investing a ton of money in a house, it is smart to do a little research about the neighborhood you are planning to live in. Feeling safe in your home is a foundational requirement for anyone looking to find a place to live. One of the things that you want to look at is the crime rate of the area.  

You also need to understand whether a specific crime is known in the area or just a one-time mere coincidence.

Here is a video guide Chandler has prepared to help you know if a neighborhood you are interested in is the kind of home you want to live in. You can navigate, filter, and get the exact information that you need to search the area you are interested in.

https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-lowest-tax-burden/20494