Page 18 - PGA Community News - September '22

Page 18, PGA C.A.N.! September 2022 September 2022
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office

Dear Taxpayer: county’s appraisal of your property exceeded market value portion of your taxes by April 1 to keep your petition valid and
Happy autumn! and explain why. A representative from our office will then avoid additional cost and fees.
By now, all property present evidence in support of the property valuation, denied After The Hearing
owners in Palm Beach County exemption, etc., depending on the issue. You will have another The VAB must issue all final decisions within 20 calendar
have received their 2022 opportunity to comment before the end of the hearing. days of the last day it was in session. You may file a lawsuit in
Notice of Proposed Property Keep in mind, although the decision of the magistrate is circuit court if you do not agree with the VAB’s decision.
Taxes and Assessments from binding, the hearing itself is an informal process. The VAB For more information about the VAB in Palm Beach
my office. You can always will mail you a written copy of its final decision. Regardless of County, email vab@mypalmbeachclerk.com or call them at
access this information by the outcome of your hearing, you must pay all or the required (561) 355-6289.
searching your property at
PBCGOV.org/PAPA, and
then selecting “2022 Proposed Palm Beach Gardens Medical
Notice” at the top of your Property Detail page.
Center Focus On Atrial Fibrillation

September is National encourages patients to seek medical attention immediately
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) if they are experiencing AFib symptoms, and says,
awareness month, which “Knowing if a person has AFib is important. It is associated
is an important time to with a fivefold increased risk of having a stroke, a threefold
The Notice of Proposed Property Taxes is not a bill, but emphasize the importance risk of developing heart failure and a twofold risk of both
rather an estimate of your taxes based on the proposed tax of detecting and treating dementia and mortality. AFib strokes are likely to be more
rates, your property value and exemptions. AFib. AFib, is a type of severe than non-AFib related strokes.”
The next stage in the tax roll process is the petition arrhythmia (irregular Conditions that predispose patients to develop AFib
filing period. Property owners have the option to appeal heartbeat) which causes include: Age over 60, coronary artery disease, heart failure,
their property’s assessment or denial of portability before numerous debilitating high blood pressure, heart valve disease, prior heart surgery,
the county’s Value Adjustment Board (VAB), which is symptoms. Symptoms of sleep apnea, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and alcohol abuse.
administered by the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. AFib range from fatigue, Patients with suspected or proven AFib need a full
Florida law sets the value petition filing period, which begins chest palpitations or pounding, chest pain or pressure, history and physical exam. An electrocardiogram should
when the notices are mailed and ends 25 days later. This difficulty breathing, dizziness, or fainting. Unfortunately, be done to confirm the diagnosis. There are devices like
year’s deadline to file a petition is Sept. 12. some patients are found to have AFib only after having a Holter monitors and event recorders that are worn by the
This month’s newsletter examines the VAB process. I stroke. Some people with AFib feel no symptoms at all. patient and monitor the heart during days or weeks. All
hope you will find this information helpful. Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center offers a variety of patients with AFib should have an echocardiogram done by
Respectfully, minimally invasive treatment options for AFib, and is on a cardiologist to detect any underlying heart disease. Blood
Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS, the forefront of procedure options for this potentially life- thinners are indicated if the risk for stroke is significant.
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser threatening condition. Leaving persistent AFib untreated Treatment options depend on how long, often, and
can lead to blood clots, stroke and heart failure, as well as severe the AFib episodes occur. Treatments range from the
The Value Adjustment Board Process other heart-related complications. use of medications, noninvasive procedures (cardioversion
If you feel that the market value of your property is The heart has groups of specialized cells that generate and catheter ablation), to hybrid procedures where cardiac
inaccurate or does not reflect fair market value as of Jan. 1, electrical impulses which travel through natural pathways surgeons and electrophysiologists work together to get the
or you are entitled to an exemption or classification that is from the top chambers to the bottom chambers of the heart patient back into a normal heart rhythm.
not reflected on the 2022 Notice of Proposed Property Taxes, (from the atria to the ventricles). These impulses make the AFib treatment options offered at Palm Beach Gardens
contact our office for an informal review. Call us at (561) 355- heart contract and pump blood efficiently. In AFib there are Medical Center include:
3230 and we will connect you with an appraiser or exemption changes in the structure of the atria that result in abnormal • Atrial fibrillation ablation
specialist to discuss your concerns. If we are unable to resolve electrical firing creating uncoordinated and ineffective • Convergent procedure
the matter, you have the right to file a petition for adjustment atrial contractions. Blood can pool in the atria forming clots • Laproscopic atrial fibrillation surgery
with the Value Adjustment Board (VAB). that if dislodged can travel to the brain causing a stroke. • Watchman
The VAB is administered by Palm Beach County’s Clerk The heartbeat in AFib becomes irregular and can result in Dr. Klein concludes, “We have a unique and great
of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, which is independent of very fast or slow heart rates due to this abnormal electrical opportunity to treat patients that have AFib. Treating AFib
the Property Appraiser’s Office. The Board is made up of five activation. successfully improves quality of life, reduces mortality, and
individuals: two from the county’s board of commissioners, As an electrophysiologist on the medical staff of decreases the potential for developing strokes and other
one from the county’s school board, and two citizen members. Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Dr. Matthew Klein cardiac conditions.”
They approve and use special magistrates who are experienced
in property appraisal techniques or legal matters to conduct Paid Advertisement
hearings and recommend decisions 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.
Filing A Petition
Florida law sets the deadlines for filing a petition on or
before the 25th day following the mailing of the notice from
our office. This year’s deadline is Sept. 12. These deadlines do
not change, even if you choose to discuss the issue with our
office. The VAB may charge $15 or more for filing a petition.
PDF petition forms are available on our website or online
petition filing is available through the Clerk of the Circuit Court
& Comptroller.
Once a petition is filed, you will receive a notice with the
date, time, and location of your hearing at least 25 days before
your hearing date. You can reschedule your hearing once for
good cause. If your hearing is rescheduled, the clerk will send
notice at least 15 days before the rescheduled hearing.
Fifteen days prior to the scheduled petition hearing, you
are required to provide a list and summary of evidence that
you will present at the hearing. You can submit your evidence
electronically through the Clerk of the Circuit Court &
Comptroller. Seven days before the VAB hearing, our office is
required to provide you with a list and summary of evidence,
which will be presented at the hearing.
The Hearing
At the VAB hearing, you may represent yourself or seek
assistance from a professional. Some examples of professional
representation might include an attorney, a licensed real estate
appraiser or broker, or a certified public accountant. If someone
who is not a licensed professional represents you, you must
sign the petition or provide written authorization or power of
attorney for your representative.
During the hearing, a special magistrate hired by the
VAB will ask you to present your evidence and testimony
in support of your petition. In most cases, to win a reduction
in appraised value before the VAB, you must prove that the