Another scandal at the troubled Tarrant Appraisal District has local officials calling for new leadership at the agency, which sets property values for taxing purposes.
TAD’s Director of Information Systems for the past two years, Cal Wood, was suspended this week after he was recorded at a staff meeting saying, “I’m OK with creating a false narrative that distances the truth from the media.”
Since April, the public has flooded TAD with complaints about technical issues with the agency’s new website.
Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare said Wood’s suspension “is simply not enough.”
“There is a serious leadership problem at the Tarrant Appraisal District,” said O’Hare. “TAD needs a change in leadership to restore the public’s trust, which is currently non-existent.”
“How many scandals does it take?” he asked.
Just a week before news of Wood’s comments broke, TAD’s board of directors voted 3-2 to keep Chief Appraiser Jeff Law in charge of the agency, despite a series of scandals under his leadership.
The board’s vote of confidence in Law came at the end of a 90-day probationary period during which Law was directed to address performance issues outlined in a “letter of repair.”
Complaints about TAD’s operations under Law’s leadership included problems with the agency’s property appraisal software and website, as well as a lack of transparency both within the agency and with the public.
Law also received a temporary suspension last year when he was implicated in the targeting of local property tax consultant Chandler Crouch.
Keller Mayor Armin Mizani also called for new leadership.
“Taxpayers have lost trust in the Tarrant Appraisal District, and it’s time for the TAD Board to appoint a new Chief Appraiser,” Mizani said.
He said at the city’s first meeting in September, Keller will consider a “vote of no confidence” in Law.
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