Page 14 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - September '20

Page 14, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Property Appraiser’s Office

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

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