Montgomery Appraisal Review Board Staff and Pay
With 24 members and a budget of $1.07 million in 2024, the Montgomery County appraisal review board (ARB) was tasked with deciding 55,743 formal appeals. One of the vital steps in the property tax protest ladder, the board is meant to be a neutral party that decides disputes between the people of Montgomery County and the Montgomery Central Appraisal District (MCAD). Whether you are filing an informal appeal, formal appeal, or judicial appeal, be sure to join O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program™ to get the best representation for every step on your journey. You will never deal with hidden fees, upfront costs, or surprise charges, and you will only pay if your property taxes are lowered. Enroll, relax, and save.
Total Number of ARB Members - Montgomery 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 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 35 | 24 |
| New ARB Members | 4 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 7 |
| Returning ARB Members | 9 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 13 | 19 | 22 | 17 |
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.
Montgomery County Appraisal Review Board
The appraisal review board (ARB) is meant to be an unbiased and evenhanded body that acts as an arbiter between taxpayers and the Montgomery Central Appraisal District (MCAD) when it comes to property tax appeals . The ARB has become more prominent in recent years in the county as more residents begin appealing their taxes. A record 55,743 formal appeals were heard before the board in 2024.
With formal appeals being a focus going forward, especially for homeowners, Montgomery County taxpayers want to put their best foot forward when it comes to their ARB hearing. Thankfully, O’Connor is here and has over 50 years of experience dealing with appeals at all levels. Based in Houston, O’Connor has all the local knowledge and connections needed to get the best deal possible. O’Connor is also one of the largest firms in America that specializes in property tax protests, meaning they have the assets to handle any problem thrown their way.
MCAD ARB Members
While the ARB has always been small, 2023 saw a brief expansion to 35 members. 2024, however, saw this reversed, with a new total of only 24. This meant the loss of three boards, as each is made up of three experts. The 2023 expansion was generally seen as a step in the right direction, especially as formal hearings become the norm. There certainly needs to be a large influx of members in the future, as even the 35 in 2023 was inadequate for the task at hand.
How Many Days did ARB Hold Hearings in Montgomery 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 | 48 | 50 | 65 | 62 | 63 | 95 | 121 | 82 | 123 | 105 | 107 |
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.
Days the Montgomery County ARB Met
There is no appointed or set schedule for the ARB, they simply must meet until every single formal appeal is heard. This can be quite the task, considering the 55,743 formal appeals put forward in 2024. The ARB met for 107 days in 2024, up from 105 in 2023. It is surprising that there were not more days met, as the sudden drop in members meant a much greater workload. The statewide average was only 20 days, while massive counties like Dallas only met for 50 days.
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 | $200 | $200 | $200 | $200 | $200 | $175 | $200 | $200 | $200 | $197 | $200 |
| Median per diem to ARB | $200 | $200 | $200 | $200 | $200 | $175 | $200 | $200 | $200 | $198 | $225 |
| Highest per diem to ARB | $250 | $250 | $250 | $250 | $250 | $225 | $250 | $250 | $250 | $248 | $250 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since Texas property taxes are the largest tax payment for many Texans.
ARB Compensation
The total budget for the ARB in 2024 was $1.07 million. This was mostly to compensate the members of the board for their 107 days of work. The highest paid board members received $250 per day, the median was $225, while the lowest got a respectable $200. Montgomery paid its members more than most other counties and blew away the state average, which was $213 for the high pay and $170 for the low. While there were many shortcomings in the county, compensation was not one of them. This is to be expected with a budget that doubled from the previous year, while also shedding members.