When asked if department heads had to answer to anyone else when greenlighting their own remote work, County Spokesperson Molly Nichelson said it was up to them alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTelecommuting is at the discretion of the Department Head based on operational needs,\u201d Nichelson wrote in a Friday text.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Voice of OC reached out several times to OC Animal Care for a comment from Director Monica Schmidt, but were repeatedly told the department does not comment on \u201cpersonnel matters.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Schmidt took over as the agency\u2019s director in 2024, their third in five years after previous directors left amid protests and scandals over how they treated animals<\/a> in the shelter.\u00a0<\/p>\n Read: New OC Animal Shelter Director Looks to Reconnect With Public<\/a><\/p>\n While Schmidt has worked for OC Animal Care since 2020, starting out as an assistant director<\/a>, before that she worked for a Houston-based nonprofit aimed at helping animals and still owns a home in the city, which public records indicate she acquired in 2017.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to the Harris County Central Appraisal District\u2019s website, Schmidt takes what\u2019s dubbed the residential homestead exemption for her property tax, which helps lower the total amount of property taxes paid on the house for state residents.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n To qualify for the exemption, homeowners have to state it\u2019s their primary residence according to the Texas Comptroller\u2019s website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTo qualify for the general residence homestead exemption, a home must meet the definition of a residence homestead and an individual must have an ownership interest in the property and use the property as the individual\u2019s principal residence,\u201d reads the website. \u201cAn applicant is required to state that he or she does not claim an exemption on another residence homestead in or outside of Texas.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n While it\u2019s unclear how much the exemption lowers Schmidt\u2019s taxes, the online disclosures note that it changes the value of the property by over $150,000 for evaluators looking to charge her taxes.\u00a0<\/p>\n On the form Schmidt signed to request the lower taxes in 2021, it notes that any perjury could lead to criminal charges.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI understand if I make a false statement on this form, I could be found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor or a state jail felony,\u201d reads the form, which then states \u201cthat I\/the property owner meet(s) the qualifications under Texas law for the residence homestead exemption for which I am applying.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n On that form, which was obtained by a Voice of OC public records request, Schmidt notes that she had a residential exemption before that she wanted to get renewed.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI had a residential exemption in 2017-2020. Suddenly it disappeared in 2021. Please reinstate and back date,\u201d wrote Schmidt.\u00a0<\/p>\n The forms also identify her as the sole owner of the property and include her driver\u2019s license.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Harris County disclosure page also notes that she continued to take the exemption on the property through at least 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Bothwell_OCAnimalCare_Tustin_April_2024_17-copy.jpg\")
Many dogs are still looking for homes at OC Animal Care in Tustin, on April 24, 2024. Credit: GIL BOTHWELL, Voice of OC<\/p>\n