by CARY GRIFFIN

Chris Peace has officially taken the helm of the Kaufman County Appraisal District as Chief Appraiser.

Peace was appointed to the post September 24 after having served as Acting Chief Appraiser for about six months. Prior to becoming Acting Chief Appraiser, he served KCAD as its Deputy Chief Appraiser. Peace is a veteran with the district, having joined the staff as a general appraiser 13 years ago.

Peace holds a degree in agriculture with a minor in biology, He received his degree at Stephen F. Austin University in 1994.

Peace, 39, was born and raised in Canton, Texas. Currently single, Peace describes himself as an “avid golfer.” He also enjoys hunting quail and says he’s a general all-outdoorsman.

Peace says he’s seen a lot of changes in Kaufman County in his 13 years with KCAD.

“The Forney area has just skyrocketed,” he said.

“This area has experienced lots of growth over the last several years,” he continued. “The activity has slowed some in the last year and a half.”

However, Peace said that the Kaufman County Appraisal District reviews the market situation on a yearly basis in order to accurately appraise property in the county at its correct market value.

Peace told the Messenger that countywide, appraisals for 2009 are “basically less” than they were in 2008.

“A few areas in  Kaufman County did see some small increases; however, most areas remained flat or saw some small reductions in their values,” Peace said.

Peace said that KCAD had to certify its 2009 tax roll by July 25. Certification ended a months-long process. In May, appraisal notices were mailed out to property owners whose property showed an increase in appraised value. Once appraisal notices were mailed out, there was a 30-day time frame in which the property owner could discuss the appraised value through an informal process. If the informal process failed to resolve an issue, the property owner was scheduled for a formal protest before the Kaufman County Appraisal Review Board (ARB). Protest hearings are held during June and July in order to finalize the tax roll by the required July 25 date.

Peace said Kaufman County has roughly  65,000 account parcels. For 2009, there were approximately 5,800 actual protests.