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Board hears Linebarger pitch on property‑value study appeals as appraisal‑district timing looms
Summary
Linebarger described services to appeal property‑value study results, self‑report exemptions and retroactive tax‑roll audits; staff said the firm charges a 10% contingency fee on validated savings and warned of a 40‑calendar‑day appeal window after PTAD results in January 2026.
Bill Messick of Linebarger outlined three services his firm offers to school districts in response to the Comptroller’s property value study: (1) filing appeals for invalid PTAD findings, (2) self‑report reviews for exemptions and adjustments (including over‑65 and new homestead exemptions), and (3) tax‑roll audit services reaching back up to three years to identify recoverable revenue.
Messick said the PTAD property‑value study will be released in January 2026 and that districts have 40 calendar days to file appeals; he warned that if a district’s PTAD estimate falls below 85.5% of market value, the district could receive an invalid finding and state funding would be at risk.
Staff explained the proposed Linebarger contract structure: the firm would collect a 10% contingency fee on any additional state aid or validated savings recovered for the district. District staff said any contract would come forward for board consideration next month.
Trustees asked for clarifying details about the timeline and the potential magnitude of recovered funds. One staff presenter pointed to the firm’s historical work: the materials referenced districts that collectively recovered significant additional state aid under similar arrangements, but district staff and Linebarger emphasized that outcomes depend on the PTAD results and on successful appeals or audits.
Next steps: staff will bring a contract for board consideration at the next meeting with recommended terms and any requested clarifications about contingency fees, scopes and approvals.
