As Wendy Burgess’ term as Tarrant County Tax-Assessor Collector comes to an end, local ISDs are considering whether to re-appoint Burgess to the Tarrant Appraisal District board.
Burleson ISD, Crowley ISD, Eagle Mountain/Saginaw ISD, HEB ISD, Mansfield ISD, and Northwest ISD will work together to reach a decision on who will represent the interests of the school districts as taxing entities.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Burgess has faced controversy during her time as Tax-Assessor Collector. Exclusive audio previously published by DX in which Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Wendy Burgess slurred her speech during an official meeting, has raised questions about the incumbent official’s conduct.
During the December 2020 Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) board meeting Burgess can be heard pushing to award a contract to a particular vendor.
“The board was not presented with information about the second vendor by either the staff or Ms. Burgess,” TAD board member Rich DeOtte told The Dallas Express. “For her to move to assign the contract to that second vendor [Linebarger] sight unseen was highly unusual.”
Documents previously obtained raised questions about Burgess’ use of special tax exemptions.
Burgess, who previously attempted to pursue more aggressive collections against citizens who unlawfully used special property tax exemptions, was found to have taken homestead exemptions at two different properties during overlapping years.
Burgess’ record and past behavior were met with criticism from local leaders.
“To find out later that the second vendor was a substantial donor to her campaign, I believe, made this a flagrant attempt at cronyism, which I consider to be corrupt,” DeOtte told The Dallas Express. “Thankfully, most of the board did not support her motion that day.”
Tarrant County Realtor Chandler Crouch mentioned how Burgess did not support taxpayers.
“[She] defended these governmental cronies and crooks,” Chandler said, “She didn’t stand up for any of us. She kept turning a blind eye when confronted with what was going on.”
As a result of Burgess’ record of controversies, County Judge Tim O’Hare advocated for change in the tax-assessor collector office.
“We need a tax assessor who will strongly advocate for the taxpayer. And also one that will push and promote conservative candidates, policies, and values. We are in a battle for the heart and soul of our country. And ground zero is Tarrant County,” said O’Hare.
Tarrant County Tax-Assessor Collector-elect Rick Barnes provided his comments.
“Voters entrusted me to serve as the new Tax Assessor Collector because they wanted a taxpayer advocate both at the Tax office and on the Appraisal District Board. As a sitting member on the Appraisal Board, I look forward to working alongside the other board members but in doing so, will ensure we remain accountable to and answer to the taxpayers of Tarrant County,” Barnes told the Dallas Express.
The Dallas Express reached out to Burgess office but did not receive a response.