(Seguin) — In an effort to boost public transparency and communication, the Guadalupe Appraisal District (GAD) has launched a new section of its website devoted entirely to updates on its future headquarters at 216 E. College Street. The project includes the purchase and renovation of the historic Mary B. Erskine building in downtown Seguin.
The webpage, recently announced by Chief Appraiser Peter Snaddon, is designed to give taxpayers, local governments, and other interested residents an open window into the project’s development.
According to Snaddon, the new site section provides “a reliable and centralized location for the public to view project details, board actions, cost analyses, and other supporting documentation related to the project’s development.”
The page can be accessed at www.guadalupead.org.
Snaddon says visitors will find documents organized under categories such as project milestones, cost summaries, and official board actions. The district says updates will be added as the project moves forward.
The creation of the webpage follows months of public discussion surrounding the district’s decision to purchase and renovate the Mary B. Erskine property for use as its new headquarters — a move he says were approved by all taxing entities over the last several months.
While the project has received official backing, it has also drawn scrutiny from some local residents, including Dr. Al Burns, a Seguin business owner who previously urged the district to reconsider the plan. Burns argued that the $10 million-plus project was overly expensive and larger than the district’s needs, suggesting that taxpayers — particularly schools — could face unnecessary long-term costs.
In an earlier statement to the Seguin Daily News, Burns said the district could have pursued a more affordable expansion of its current facility for about half the price. He also questioned why the district agreed to pay nearly $1.9 million for the downtown property, which last sold for roughly $800,000 in 2021.
Snaddon, however, has defended the board’s decision, stating that the purchase price was based on an independent appraisal and engineering studies that reflect current market conditions. He maintains that the facility’s size and scope are designed to meet the community’s long-term growth and operational needs, calling it “a fiscally responsible investment for the future.”
The new transparency webpage, Snaddon says, is part of the district’s broader commitment to “fiscal responsibility, accountability, and open communication with the taxpayers and taxing entities we serve.”
Those seeking additional information or specific project documents not yet available online may submit an Open Records Request by emailing openrecords@guadalupead.org.
The Guadalupe Appraisal District is currently located at 3000 N. Austin Street.