Cameron Property Tax Reduction from Lawsuits Equaled $910,000 a Year
While they were small in number, judicial appeals in 2023 delivered some outsized results, bringing home a combined $910,000 in tax savings. Not only were these protests mighty, but they were also incredibly efficient, with over 86% of all cases going in favor of the taxpayer before court could even be held. If a taxpayer is dedicated enough to make it to the district court with a lawsuit, they are almost guaranteed a win. Make your final protest push when you enroll in O’Connor’s Property Tax Protection Program™ . O’Connor will handle all of the attorneys, expert witnesses, and research, while you do not pay a dime unless you win. Enroll, relax, and save.
How the Judicial Appeals Were ResolvedSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Judicial Appeals | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Number of Judicial Appeals Resolved | 16.00 | 15.00 | 17.00 | 11.00 | 20.00 | 24.00 | 27.00 | 58.00 | 64.00 | 66.00 | 66.00 |
| By Agreed Judgment | 15.00 | 14.00 | 16.00 | 8.00 | 18.00 | 21.00 | 24.00 | 21.00 | 58.00 | 58.00 | 60.00 |
| By Court Judgment or Other | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 3.00 | 2.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 37.00 | 6.00 | 8.00 | 6.00 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since An annual appeal is an insurance policy to avoid major increases.
Cameron County Judicial Appeal Resolutions
Thanks to the intrinsic value of every case, judicial appeals are some of the most profitable property tax protests in Texas. Each case represents millions or even billions of dollars in value, which makes every verdict a major victory for the taxpayer and a giant loss for the Cameron Appraisal District (Cameron CAD). The true test is actually getting to the judicial appeal, as Cameron CAD often caves before trial. Earn your victory in or outside the courtroom when you join forces with O’Connor. As one of the biggest property tax firms in the United States, O’Connor can run point on your lawsuit, helping secure you one of the sweetest victories there is.
Cameron CAD Judicial Appeal Resolution Summary
Judicial appeals represent the first stage in the process where the advantage distinctively shifts in favor of the taxpayer. Cameron CAD tends to be particularly stingent during the informal stage and outcomes at the formal hearing level are generally evenly 50-50, with taxpayers winning half the time. This all gets turned on its head in lawsuits. A taxpayer that made it this far has excellent evidence, a crack legal team, and solid representation. In the face of this, Cameron CAD typically collapses and settles out of court to the advantage of the taxpayer. In 2023, 58 out of the 66 lawsuits were settled out of court. That means that businesses and homeowners won over 86% of the time.
Appraised Value (ARB) of Resolved Judicial AppealsSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Billions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Appraised Value (ARB) | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.24 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.32 | 0.68 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since To maintain their rights to appeal to or through the judicial appeal process. Owners must exhaust administrative options to pursue binding arbitration or a judicial appeal
Appraised Value of Resolved Judicial Appeals
While appeals of all types have been up-and-down for Cameron taxpayers, each has delivered some of the best value reductions in the county’s history. 2023’s lawsuits were no exception, contesting $320 million with just a handful of cases. This was only $1 million shy of the record set in 2021 and 2022. This was achieved even though lawsuits in the county were having a down year in most metrics. This proves just how much value is climbing, especially in the last few years. While there may not be as many lawsuits as usual, each is packed with more value than ever before.
Value Reduction from Judicial AppealsSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Billions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Total Reduction from Judicial Appeals | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.10 |
| Single Family | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Multi-Family | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0 |
| Commercial | 0.03 | 0 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.05 |
| All Other | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.01 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since It is a responsibility of ownership. Large commercial owners generally appeal annually and obtain a reduction. Why should homeowners be excluded?
Cameron County Taxpayer Value Reduction from Judicial Appeals
Lawsuits were able to shave $40 million in taxable value in 2023 alone. This was the highest result seen since 2015 and was an enormous jump over the $30 million seen in 2022. This was mostly thanks to commercial properties, which reduced $30 million in value alone. This was tied with the record set back in 2014. Apartments and other multi-family residences added $1 million to the tally. Homes and oil and gas properties were noticeably absent, but this is the norm for the county.
Tax Savings From Judicial AppealsSource: Texas Comptroller, compiled by O’Connor, and not affiliated with any appraisal district.
| Millions of $ | |||||||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Total Tax Reduction | 1.11 | 0.97 | 0.69 | 0.42 | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.45 | 0.68 | 0.91 | 2.06 |
| Single Family | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Multi-Family | 0.16 | 0.40 | 0 | 0 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.13 | 0.24 | 0.05 |
| Commercial | 0.65 | 0.01 | 0.42 | 0.42 | 0.15 | 0.18 | 0.21 | 0.42 | 0.52 | 0.63 | 0.95 |
| All Other | 0.29 | 0.56 | 0.28 | 0 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 1.05 |
Texas property owners should protest annually since The appraisal district uses inaccurate data, factors and an inaccurate model to estimate values. Half are too high and half too low; very few are just right. Even if you are under-valued on market value, you can appeal on unequal appraisal.
Cameron CAD Property Tax Reduction from Judicial Appeals
When everything was tallied up, judicial appeals were able to save taxpayers a combined $910,000 in returned taxes. This was the highest seen since 2015 and easily blew away the sum of $680,000 from 2022. Once again, commercial properties played the hero, netting $630,000 in savings on their lonesome. Apartments likewise saw near-record success, landing $240,000 in savings. Oil and gas managed to bring in $30,000. Homes did not see any savings, but this is a rarity in Texas as a whole. Compared to the small number of cases, this was a major bang for the buck and the model of efficiency.