[0:00] The Board of Equalization is a
[0:02] body independent of the Assessor
[0:04] that provides an impartial forum
[0:06] for property owners to appeal
[0:09] the property value assigned by
[0:11] the County Assessor.
[0:14] Appeals are heard by the Board
[0:15] of Equalization members and
[0:17] cover cases involving property
[0:19] tax value, denials of senior
[0:22] citizens disabled exemptions and
[0:25] property classification such as
[0:27] forest and agriculture land.
[0:29] The Board of Equalization is
[0:31] completely separate from the
[0:32] Assessor's Office. We're
[0:34] overseen by the Department of
[0:35] Revenue.
[0:36] The board members are appointed
[0:38] by the county councillors and
[0:41] the people need to know that
[0:42] we're here to assist them with
[0:44] appealing their property
[0:46] valuations that are placed by
[0:47] the Assessor's Office and this
[0:49] is a venue that you can come and
[0:52] try to prove that the assessors
[0:54] valuation is incorrect and the
[0:57] board can make a reasoned
[0:58] decision if you're presenting
[0:59] the correct information and very
[1:01] easy.
[1:02] We're happy to help.
[1:03] We're happy to educate.
[1:05] Just want every person out there
[1:07] to know that this is a venue
[1:09] that they can access for free.
[1:11] Hearings are every other week
[1:13] from 9 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
[1:16] Residential hearings last 15
[1:18] minutes each.
[1:19] The appellant is sworn in and
[1:21] the hearing is recorded for
[1:22] public record.
[1:23] If they're in a housing area
[1:25] which we're all built by the
[1:26] same builder it's it's pretty
[1:28] easy to do they can find
[1:29] properties that are very similar
[1:30] to theirs and find out how much
[1:32] they're sold for and how much
[1:34] theirs is valued and if there's
[1:36] a big disparity obviously if
[1:38] that's sold for a lot less than
[1:40] their property is valued for
[1:41] that would be a key factor for
[1:43] them to start looking at.
[1:44] Then they would go on the
[1:46] website and look at properties
[1:48] that are comparable to theirs
[1:50] that they've they've already
[1:51] targeted and then there will be
[1:53] other properties available that
[1:54] they can see if they go on the
[1:57] Property Information Center
[1:58] website and they can find
[2:00] properties that are similar to
[2:02] theirs and compare them and see
[2:04] what is out there that have
[2:06] sold. Appellants must submit any
[2:09] supporting information at least
[2:11] 21 business days prior to their
[2:13] hearing as proof for their case.
[2:17] The board will review their case
[2:19] prior to their scheduled
[2:20] hearing. Following the hearing
[2:22] the board meets in executive
[2:23] session to discuss the testimony
[2:25] and information provided and
[2:27] decide on the case.
[2:29] We promise we give a decision
[2:31] back within 30 days and
[2:33] generally speaking it's usually
[2:35] within a week and a half or so.
[2:37] But clearly within 30 days if we
[2:40] have some conflict then you
[2:41] might take that full 30 days.
[2:43] But for the most part it's
[2:44] sooner than that. They can then
[2:46] apply to the state for an appeal
[2:48] to the state and when we
[2:51] encourage them to try to get
[2:52] everything they can possibly get
[2:54] done here before they go to the
[2:56] state because the wait at the
[2:58] state is a minimum of two years
[3:00] at this point or maybe even
[3:01] longer.
[3:02] If you have any concerns about
[3:04] the assessed value of your
[3:05] property and you can provide
[3:07] documentation indicating a
[3:09] different value for your
[3:10] property then you should appeal
[3:12] your assessment.
[3:13] This is your legal right and it
[3:15] is free.
[3:17] The only thing I would urge
[3:17] people is to not be afraid of
[3:19] this process.
[3:21] They are welcome to come in.
[3:22] These are open hearings.
[3:24] They're welcome to come in and
[3:25] visit a hearing at their leisure
[3:29] whenever they have the
[3:30] opportunity and see how it's run
[3:32] and go from there if they're
[3:35] afraid to even think about it
[3:37] they can come in and visit and
[3:39] we'll go through the process
[3:40] with them. For more information
[3:42] about the board of equalization
[3:44] or to fill out an appeal form.
[3:46] Visit their website.