Julie Zobel named chief appraiser for Coryell Central Appraisal District

Julie Zobel stepped into the top job at Coryell Central Appraisal District, the Gatesville office that helps set the property values behind tax bills for homes, businesses and other taxable property across Coryell County.

That role carries immediate weight for local taxpayers. Texas has no state property tax, and local taxing units depend on property tax revenue to fund services such as schools, streets and roads, police protection and fire protection. In Coryell County, the appraisal district handles local property tax appraisal and exemption administration for 18 jurisdictions, so the chief appraiser helps shape the numbers that feed the annual tax cycle.

Zobel officially assumed her duties on March 18. The district described her as bringing extensive experience in property appraisal, administration and public service, and said her background fit a job that depends on accuracy, transparency and fairness. Her work now includes overseeing appraisal operations, keeping the office in compliance with state rules and helping make sure property values are handled professionally.

The transition had been building for months. A Coryell County Board of Directors record from Nov. 6, 2025, showed board members considering Zobel for interim chief appraiser beginning Dec. 1, 2025, with an additional salary of $400 a week. By the spring, the district’s staff page listed Julie Zobel, RPA, as chief appraiser, alongside Brittany Stevens, RPA, as director of appraisal, and staff members Linda Heuer, Lauren Willingham, Debbie Hill and Shelly Byrd.

The district’s 2025-2026 reappraisal plan shows the scale of the office she now leads: one chief appraiser, one deputy chief appraiser, one director of appraisal, five appraisers and five full-time appraisal technicians. The Coryell Central Appraisal District office is at 705 E. Main St. in Gatesville, and the Comptroller’s Coryell County directory lists Zobel there as chief appraiser.

The district’s taxpayer portal was last updated April 16, signaling active use during the leadership change. Property searches, exemption forms and homestead applications remain part of the office’s daily work, and that makes Zobel’s arrival especially important heading into the next valuation cycle.

Zobel said she was honored to serve the citizens of Coryell County and looked forward to working with the team to continue delivering fair and accurate appraisals. Debbie Hill also praised the transition, saying Zobel has been great for the district, as Coryell Central Appraisal District continues its work of producing accurate, uniform appraisals tied to the local market and customer service.