Page 10 - Abacoa Community News - September '20

Page 10, Abacoa

GOvernment

Property Appraiser’s Office

Taxpayers: from the county’s board In most cases, to win a reduction in appraised value
As we head into September, of commissioners, before the VAB, you must prove that the county’s
my office continues to one from the county’s appraisal of your property exceeded market value and
implement measures to ensure school board and two explain why.
the health and safety of our citizen members. Regardless of the outcome of your hearing, you must
staff, while also maintaining They approve and use pay all or the required portion of your taxes by April 1 to
the highest level of safe special magistrates keep your petition valid and avoid additional cost and fees.
service to the taxpayers of experienced in property After The Hearing
Palm Beach County during appraisal techniques The VAB must issue all final decisions within 20
the COVID-19 pandemic. or legal matters who calendar days of the last day it was in session. You may
Our office is open to the conduct hearings and file a lawsuit in circuit court if you do not agree with the
public however we encourage recommend decisions VAB’s decision.
you to contact us via phone: (561) 355-3230, email: PAO@ to the VAB for final For more information about the VAB in Palm Beach
pbcgov.org or utilize our online services at our website: www. approval. Special magistrates will review property valuation, County, visit their website at www.mypalmbeachclerk.
pbcgov.org/PAPA. denials of portability, deferrals and change of ownership or com/public-funds/value-adjustment-board-vab or email
By now, all property owners in Palm Beach County have control determinations. All final rulings are determined by the them at vab@mypalmbeachclerk.com, or call them at
received their 2020 Notice of Proposed Property Taxes and VAB. (561) 355-6289.
Assessments from my office. Remember this not a bill, but rather Prior To Filing A Petition
an estimate of your taxes based on the proposed tax rates, your Our office encourages property owners to contact us to Property Appraiser’s Office
property value and exemptions. request a (phone) conference regarding their concerns prior to
The next stage in the tax roll process is the petition filing filing a petition. In preparation for this discussion, records on Receives Award From
period. Property owners have the option to appeal their property’s your property are available on our website at www.pbcgov.org/
assessment or denial of portability before the county’s Value PAPA or call us at (561) 355-3230. International Professional
Adjustment Board (VAB), which is administered by the Clerk If the matter cannot be resolved, you can file a petition with Association
and Comptroller’s Office. Florida law sets the value petition filing the VAB.
period, which begins when the notices are mailed and ends 25 Filing A Petition
days later. This year’s deadline to file a petition is Sept. 14. Florida law sets the deadlines for filing a petition on or before The Palm Beach County
For questions about petition filing, go to the VAB website: the 25th day following the mailing of the notice from our office. Property Appraiser’s Office has
https://www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/public-funds/value- This year’s deadline is Sept. 14. These deadlines do not change, been named recipient of the 2020
adjustment-board-vab even if you choose to discuss the issue with our office. The VAB Public Information Program
Also highlighted in this month’s newsletter, I am happy to may charge up to $15 for filing a petition. Award from the International
announce our office has been named recipient of the 2020 Public Petition forms are available on our website or you may Association of Assessing
Information Program Award from the International Association visit the Clerk and Comptroller’s VAB website: https://www. Officers (IAAO). The award
of Assessing Officers. mypalmbeachclerk.com/public-funds/value-adjustment-board- is presented annually, to an
I hope you and your loved ones remain healthy and safe. vab for online petition filing. assessment jurisdiction that has
We Value What You Value. Once a petition is filed, you will receive a notice with the developed and implemented an
Respectfully, date, time, and location of your hearing at least 25 days before effective system for distributing
Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS your hearing date. You can reschedule your hearing once for information to taxpayers and
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser good cause. If your hearing is rescheduled, the clerk will send other stakeholders.
notice at least 15 days before the rescheduled hearing. The video series submitted – Celebrating Women’s
The Value Adjustment Board required to provide our office with a list and summary of evidence History Month – March 2019, profiled the contributions of
Fifteen days prior to the scheduled petition hearing, you are
some of the longest serving female employees in the property
Process that you will present at the hearing. You can submit your evidence appraiser’s office.
electronically on the clerk’s VAB website. Seven days before the “We selected the Women’s History Month video series
Property owners who disagree with the property assessment VAB hearing, our office is required to provide you with a list and for consideration in conjunction with the recognition of this
listed on their notice of proposed property taxes have two options summary of evidence, which will be presented at the hearing. year’s centennial of the 19th Amendment,” said Palm Beach
– contact the Property Appraiser’s Office for an informal review The Hearing County Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS. “The
of the matter or file a petition for adjustment with the Value At the VAB hearing, you may represent yourself or seek theme honors the confident women in our office who forged a
Adjustment Board (VAB), or both. assistance from a professional; some examples might be an path toward equality in their careers just as the brave women
The VAB is administered by the Palm Beach County Clerk attorney, a licensed real estate appraiser or broker, or a certified who fought to win suffrage rights for women,” she said.
and Comptroller’s Office, which is independent of the Property public accountant. “Thank you IAAO for the recognition and a special thanks
Appraiser’s Office. The Board is made up of five individuals: two If someone who is not a licensed professional represents you, to all the outstanding women who participated in the series,”
you must sign the petition or provide written authorization or said Jacks.
power of attorney for your representative. To view the series go to: https://www.youtube.com/
During the hearing, a special magistrate, usually a licensed playlist?list=PLww8Y2vJ_bCmeBqhGq5MdXvs1Fh6g5lAc.
appraiser or attorney will ask you to present your evidence and
testimony in support of your petition. A representative from Office Closed Due To
our office will then present evidence in support of the property
valuation, denied exemption, etc., depending on the issue. You Upcoming Holiday
will have another opportunity to comment before the end of the
hearing. The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office
Keep in mind, although the decision of the magistrate is (including all of our service centers) will be closed in
binding, the hearing itself is an informal process. The VAB will observance of Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 7. We will reopen
mail you a written copy of its final decision. on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 8:30 a.m.
We Measure,
Make & Install “Service is our number one priority”
For You! 561-743-0070

www.palmspoolservices.com

Sean, Company Owner

FREE 561-208-8474
ESTIMATES curlytailscreens.com

Window Screens • Sliding Screen Doors

Expires 9/30/20.
Family Owned & Operated
Est. 2013 10% OFF
New Window Screen Order
Not valid with other discounts/coupons. Must
present coupon during estimate. Max. Discount:
$70. Expires 10/31/2020 State Licensed & Insured
Serving Palm Beach County CPC # 1457468 • LPG#30099