About Us
Today the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) appraises property in all of Dallas County. We cover an area of approximatly 900 square miles and are responsible for almost 813,000 tax accounts.
Our agency is organized very similarly to a corporation. We have a Board of Directors that represents the 61 governments of Dallas County. The Board appoints an Executive Director/Chief Appraiser who is responsible for the daily operation of the district. Staffing of the district varies according to the workload, but is approximately 250 employees.
Each year our agency is audited, including both our financial operation and our appraisal effort. Independent auditors conduct the financial audit. The Comptroller’s Office, Property Tax Division, conducts a performance audit of our appraisal effort to determine the accuracy and equity of that effort.
In 2003, the DCAD installed MARS (Mass Appraisal Record System). This new system allows our appraisers to download data from our file servers into pen-based tablets that they take into the field. While on a property site, our appraisers can review data concerning the property as well as measure, inspect, and value the property. Our appraisers have access to much information from our computer files, including digital color photographs of each improved property, Geographic Information System (GIS) information, such as flood plains, city limits, school districts and other political boundaries, etc. All of this information is used to help the appraiser make as fair and equitable appraisal of your property as possible.
Over twenty years have passed since the DCAD was first organized by the State. Our agency has matured into one of the most advanced, cost efficient and accurate appraisal districts in the State of Texas.
Mission Statement
The State of Texas has assigned each appraisal district its overall mission; that is, to appraise property accurately, fairly and equitably. However, we believe that it is important to add six more duties to that charge. These additional duties are:
1. Be courteous to all with whom we come in contact
2. Be professional
3. Treat each citizen equally
4. Be efficient
5. Be timely
6. Be accessible
We hope that we meet each of these goals. We pledge our best efforts in achieving all that is required by law and is expected of us as citizens of this community.
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