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Medina County Appraisal District seeks Hondo approval to buy and renovate Ridge Building
Summary
Medina County Appraisal District board members told the Hondo City Council they have a downtown building under contract and are asking taxing entities to approve a time‑sensitive resolution so the district can close and renovate office space; financing and renovation estimates were presented but final taxing‑entity numbers remain pending.
Jody Jacobs, vice chair of the Medina County Appraisal District board, told the Hondo City Council on Jan. 13 that the appraisal district has a downtown property under contract and is seeking taxing‑entity approvals to buy and renovate new office space.
"It is past time for the Medina County Appraisal District to find a new home," Jacobs said, noting the district has occupied 1410 Avenue K since 1981 and that the county, which owns that building, has signaled the appraisal district must relocate. She said the district is under contract for a strip center near the railroad and is in a feasibility period.
Jacobs provided preliminary financing estimates: the board is considering third‑party financing on a 20‑year term with a projected monthly mortgage payment around $10,000 and said the appraisal district expects to ask taxing entities for an annual contribution (Jacobs estimated the city of Hondo's share at roughly $2,590 in some slides and later presented a total annual city share figure of $22,590 in another figure; Jacobs described these as budget estimates to be finalized). She also described a turnkey renovation estimate of about $1,600,000 and said the district has around $500,000 available for a down payment from a building fund.
The board outlined a compressed schedule: a draft resolution will be prepared by Jan. 31, taxing entities will be notified Feb. 1 with hard numbers, and the appraisal district hopes for taxing‑entity approval by Feb. 28 and a tentative closing on March 15. Jacobs asked the council to authorize the mayor to sign the appraisal district's resolution when it is delivered, calling the approval "time sensitive." Council members asked for written backup showing each taxing entity's percentage and for confirmation whether renovation costs were included in the figures.
Council did not take a final vote on the request at the Jan. 13 meeting. Council members indicated support and asked staff to review the appraisal district's numbers; Jacobs said the board itself had not yet passed its resolution and that final documentation would be provided before the council would be asked to act.
What happens next: the appraisal district expects to deliver its final resolution and cost breakdown to taxing entities prior to the council's next meeting so the mayor can consider signing within the statutory time window.
