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Cheryl E. Johnson, PCC, CTOP
Tax Assessor-Collector

Galveston County Tax Assessor Collector
Motto of the Galveston County Tax Office: The race for quality has no finish line!

As a resident of the Bay Area since 1983, Cheryl E. Johnson is a courageous, energetic, experienced and authentic leader. With over 45 years of experience in real estate, government, tax and legislative activities, she is devoted to serving the citizens of Galveston County.

A fiscal conservative advocating lower taxes and smaller, more efficient government, she has been an advocate for taxpayers since 1994 when she served on the Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees. Elected Galveston County Tax Assessor Collector in 2004, she was the first Republican woman elected to a countywide seat, and in 2008 became the highest ‘vote getter’ in any race in Galveston County history, a title she has maintained from 2012 through 2022 elections. She is unopposed for her 6th term which will run from 2024 through 2028. At the beginning of this term, she will become the longest serving Tax Assessor Collector in Galveston County history.

Johnson has served as Galveston County “Cut Tax” Assessor/Collector with passion and commitment, participating in efforts to bring about meaningful property tax relief and reform over the last 30+ years. She stood beside then Director of Americans for Prosperity Texas Director, Peggy Venable and more recently State Senator Mayes Middleton in opposition to taxpayer funded lobbying. She is a frequent expert witness in both the Texas House and Senate and has successfully partnered with various legislators to assist in passage of changes to law that benefit Texas property owners and voters.

After Hurricane Ike wreaked havoc across Galveston County in September 2008, with two of her offices heavily damaged and many staff living in temporary quarters, Cheryl directed her energies on correcting deficiencies in laws that slowed recovery and harmed citizens after a disaster such as Ike. Her successes in Austin caught the eye of many State leaders and in 2009, Governor Perry appointed her as the tax assessor collector representative on the newly-created Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board where she served as Vice Chair in 2010 and 2011.

After an unsuccessful effort by the 88th Legislature to provide tax relief, in late June 2023, House Speaker Dade Phelan established a Select Study Committee on Sustainable Property Tax Relief that includes 13 legislators and three public members. Cheryl is one of the three public members. The Committee has been tasked with:

Evaluating the dynamic efforts of tax rate compression, limits on taxable value, and homestead exemption increases to maximize savings to property owners;
Studying the viability and sustainability of eliminating maintenance and operations taxes by 2035;
Examining historical rates of appraisal increases and recommending methods to reduce the tax burden of appraisal increases on all real property; and
Examining the long-term value of homestead exemptions to Texas homeowners in conjunction with the impact of appraisal increases.

Additionally, in June of 2023, Ms. Johnson was appointed by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board to serve on the Customer Service and Protection Advisory Committee. This committee, upon request by the TxDMV Board, shall make recommendations on topics related to improving and enhancing department customer service including infrastructure; new customer service initiatives; policy and process improvements; technology; investigation and enforcement issues, including vehicle titles and registration fraud, lemon law; the warranty performance program; household goods movers; and other consumer protection topics.

Whether testifying on transportation, election, or tax legislation at the State Capitol or addressing groups at local events, Cheryl E. Johnson has continued to prove her commitment to smaller, smarter government and representing the best interests of Galveston County and Texas taxpayers. An uncompromising leader and dedicated public servant - she is committed to standing boldly in support of conservative values and is always focused on doing what is right.

Cheryl has never wavered in her commitment to increase service, reduce cost and fight for property tax relief as leader of the Galveston County Tax Office and that is clearly evidenced in the office motto, “The race for quality has no finish line.” It should be noted that the Galveston County Tax Office achieved the coveted TxDMV Gold Performance Quality Award placing GCTO in the top 1% of 254 Texas Counties with regard to outstanding performance and efficiency in providing title and registration services, clearly demonstrated a commitment to preventing fraud and complying with state laws and rules. Cheryl attributes this achievement to her team who are committed to serving the public and serving it well.

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

1993 Founder and Member, Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility in Education
1994 Appointee, State Senator J. E. Brown’s Advisory Committee on Education
1994 Director, Clear Creek Education Foundation
1994 – 1999 Board of Trustees, Clear Creek Independent School District (Secretary 1995, President 1996, 1997).
1996 Statewide Legislative Advisory Council for the Texas Association of School Boards
1996 Member, Federal Relationship Network of the National Association of School Boards
1997 – 1999 Member, Board of Directors, Galveston Central Appraisal District (2 years Chair)

2000 Appointee, Galveston County Indigent Health Care Task Force
2005 to Present Ex-Officio Member, Board of Directors, Galveston Central Appraisal District
2007 to Present Legislative Committee, Texas Assessor Collectors Association
2009 to 2013 Board Member, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board (Vice Chair 2009-2011)
2019 - 2022 TxDMV Consumer Protection Committee
2023 - Current TxDMV Customer Service & Protection Advisory Committee
2023 Select Study Committee on Sustainable Property Tax Relief, Texas House