| What is going on with appraisal property values? That's what some Galveston County residents are asking as they watch an overall increase in property appraisal values by 18 percent. Cheryl Johnson, the county's tax assessor collector, told me that even if homeowners feels stuck with unfair appraisal increases, they are more likely to accept than challenge it. One Santa Fe resident said his property value increased this year by 50.28 percent and that he plans to file a protest. But Johnson and other county officials actively encourage homeowners to ask questions and push back, and it's not as hard as it would seem. It's a matter of taking that first step by filling out a form and paying attention to what's happening in the Texas Legislature in Austin. The chances of being heard, Johnson said, are better than people realize. It seems a lot of us are hardwired to believe we don't have a voice or a choice when we feel that something isn't right or fair, and it's easy to feel helpless in situations that are seemingly larger than one person. But people like 76-year-old Hobie Sibley, who has been successfully protesting his property tax increases for years, will tell you differently. If you think your appraisal property values have inaccurately increased, find out how to make a formal protest here. yorozco@houstonchronicle.com | 
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