By Trisha Garcia
June 29, 2025
CUERO — Ongoing scrutiny surrounds the DeWitt County Appraisal District (DCAD) following recent claims of staffing changes and the reported involvement of outside consultants.
Earlier this week, Cuero Online News reported on these changes and the presence of outside auditors at the DeWitt County Appraisal District, citing a tip from a reliable source. At the time, no official statements had been issued, and multiple calls to district leadership had gone unanswered.
After our June 28, article, our follow up question to the district was met with denial by the district citing no knowledge of what we had reported. However, when confronted with additional, unpublished information substantiating the tip, the district spokesperson swiftly reversed course — confirming that an individual had, in fact, been terminated. The spokesperson declined to provide further details, citing the matter as confidential and personnel-related.
While confidentiality around employee matters is understandable, the lack of transparency has stirred renewed concern among taxpayers.
“When staffing changes occur within the very office responsible for assessing our property values, the public has a right to ask whether those values remain accurate and equitable,” one resident said. “We’re not asking for names — we’re asking whether our appraisals are still being handled in a way that’s fair and in line with state standards.”
Another taxpayer reported issues with the assessed value of their property following a sudden and significant increase. Upon further investigation, they discovered that a neighboring structure — a shop or outbuilding — had been mistakenly included in their property assessment. As of this writing, the error had not yet been corrected, and the individual was still awaiting reimbursement and removal of the misattributed value from their record.
To date, neither the Appraisal Review Board, outside auditing firms, nor DCAD leadership have issued formal statements on the termination or its potential implications. Cuero Online News continues to seek verification and balanced comment from all involved parties.
Property owners and residents are encouraged to monitor updates and participate in public hearings when available. Transparency and accountability remain critical — not only for maintaining public trust, but for ensuring property assessments withstand legal and financial scrutiny.
Cuero Online News will provide further coverage as new details become available.
