The Cleburne City Council voted unanimously to nominate Peter Svinson and Jason Marvin to the Central Appraisal District (CAD) board at its meeting on Oct. 14, advancing the city's two allowed nominations to the CAD's candidate ballot.

The nominations followed public comment from a current CAD board member and residents who raised concerns about a reduced CAD budget, staff turnover, and ongoing organizational changes. John Wood, who identified himself as a member of the Central Appraisal District board, said the CAD had “well over $500,000 less in our budget this year” and that the board is conducting an organizational audit and implementing standard operating procedures to address turnover. “We're trying to be good stewards of the money that you all spend with us and on us,” Wood said.

Peter Svinson, a CAD board member who addressed the council during public comment, described recent actions by the CAD including a three-year appraisal schedule applied to residential properties and legal work to counter a challenge by Pecos Finance Corporation. “We made three-year frozen appraisals not for businesses but only for residents here in the county,” Svinson said, and noted the CAD had hired an attorney to contest what he described as a loophole exploited by the company.

City staff told the council the property tax code governs the nomination and election process. Staff said taxing entities may submit up to two nominations by Oct. 15; the chief appraiser will prepare a ballot of nominees before Oct. 30, and taxing entities will cast votes that must be returned to the CAD by Dec. 15.

Lake Jones moved to nominate Peter Svinson and Jason Marvin; John Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

A member of the public, Kim Jones, used the public-comment period to read an extended passage from Proverbs; the reading was recorded but not connected to any formal CAD action.

With the council's nominations complete, the chief appraiser will assemble the competitive ballot and voting by taxing entities will determine the final board appointments.