2009-04-08 Board of Equalization Mtg.

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City of Centerville Revenue will not, however, extend the time for local Boards of Appeal and Equalization to meet beyond the time when the County Board of Equalization meets, which is the final two weeks of June. The authority of the local Board extends over the individual assessments of real and personal property. The Board does not have the power to increase or decrease by percentage all of the assessments in the district of a given class of property. Changes in aggregate assessments by classes are made by the County Board of Equalization. Although the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization has the authority to increase or reduce individual assessments, the total of such adjustments must not reduce the aggregate assessment made by the Assessor by more than one percent of said aggregate assessment. If the total of such adjustments does lower the aggregate assessment made by the Assessor by more than one percent, none of the adjustments will be allowed. This limitation does not apply, however, to the correction of clerical errors or to the removal of duplicate assessments. The Local Board of Appeal and Equalization does not have the authority in any year to reopen former assessments on which taxes are due and payable. The Board considers only the assessments that are in process in the current year. Adjustment can be made only by the process of abatement or by legal action. In reviewing the individual assessments, the Board may find instances of undervaluation. Before the Board can raise the market value of property it must notify the owner. The law does not prescribe any particular form of notice except that the person whose property is to be increased in value must be notified of the intent of the Board to make the increase. The Local Board of Appeal and Equalization meetings assure a property owner an opportunity to contest any other matter relating to the taxability of their property. The Board is required to review the matter and make any corrections that it deems just. When a Local Board of Appeal and Equalization convenes, it is necessary that a majority of the members be in attendance in order that any valid action may be taken. The local assessor is required by law to be present with his/her assessment books and papers. He/she is required also to take part in the proceedings but has no vote. In addition to the local assessor, the county assessor or one of his/her assistants is required to attend. The Board should proceed immediately to review the assessments of property. The Board should ask the local assessor and county assessor to present any tables that have been prepared, making comparisons of the current assessments in the district. The county assessor is required to have maps and tables relating particularly to land values for the guidance of Boards of Appeal and Equalization. Comparisons should be presented of assessments of types of property with previous years and with other assessment districts in the same county. It is the primary duty of each Board of Appeal and Equalization to examine the assessment record to see that all taxable property in the assessment district has been properly placed upon the list and valued by the assessor. In case any property, either real or personal, has been omitted; the Board has the duty of making the assessment. 8