Page 8 - The Shores of Jupiter - September '22
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Page 8, The Shores
Fifteen days prior represents you, you must sign the petition or provide written
to the scheduled authorization or power of attorney for your representative.
petition hearing, During the hearing, a special magistrate hired by
you are required the VAB will ask you to present your evidence and
to provide a list testimony in support of your petition. In most cases, to
and summary of win a reduction in appraised value before the VAB, you
evidence that you must prove that the county’s appraisal of your property
Dear Taxpayer: will present at the hearing. You can submit your evidence exceeded market value and explain why. A representative
Happy autumn! electronically through the Clerk of the Circuit Court & from our office will then present evidence in support of
By now, all property owners in Palm Beach County Comptroller. Seven days before the VAB hearing, our the property valuation, denied exemption, etc., depending
have received their 2022 Notice of Proposed Property office is required to provide you with a list and summary on the issue. You will have another opportunity to
Taxes and Assessments from my office. You can always of evidence, which will be presented at the hearing. comment before the end of the hearing.
access this information by searching your property at The Hearing Keep in mind, although the decision of the magistrate
PBCGOV.org/PAPA, and then selecting “2022 Proposed At the VAB hearing, you may represent yourself or is binding, the hearing itself is an informal process. The
Notice” at the top of your Property Detail page. seek assistance from a professional. Some examples of VAB will mail you a written copy of its final decision.
The Notice of Proposed Property Taxes is not a bill, professional representation might include an attorney, a Regardless of the outcome of your hearing, you must pay
but rather an estimate of your taxes based on the proposed licensed real estate appraiser or broker, or a certified public all or the required portion of your taxes by April 1 to keep
tax rates, your property value and exemptions. accountant. If someone who is not a licensed professional your petition valid and avoid additional cost and fees.
The next stage in the tax roll process is the petition After The Hearing
filing period. Property owners have the option to appeal The VAB must issue all
their property’s assessment or denial of portability final decisions within 20
before the county’s Value Adjustment Board (VAB), calendar days of the last day
which is administered by the Clerk of the Circuit Court it was in session. You may
& Comptroller. Florida law sets the value petition filing file a lawsuit in circuit court
period, which begins when the notices are mailed and if you do not agree with the
ends 25 days later. This year’s deadline to file a petition VAB’s decision.
is Sept. 12. For more information
This month’s newsletter examines the VAB process. I about the VAB in Palm
hope you will find this information helpful. Beach County, email vab@
Respectfully, mypalmbeachclerk.com or
Dorothy Jacks, CFA, AAS, call them at (561) 355-6289.
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
The Value Adjustment Board Town Of Jupiter News
Process
If you feel that the market value of your property is By Malise Sundstrom, 1. Each household in the town will receive a
inaccurate or does not reflect fair market value as of Jan. Jupiter Town Councilor 64-gallon garbage cart that has a lid and is easy to roll
1, or you are entitled to an exemption or classification that Across south Florida, out for automated waste collection. A larger 96-gallon
is not reflected on the 2022 Notice of Proposed Property local governments and their cart may be requested, or an additional cart may be
Taxes, contact our office for an informal review. Call us at residents and businesses are purchased if residents need more capacity. Once the
(561) 355-3230 and we will connect you with an appraiser having to contend with 40- new cart is received, old containers may be used for
or exemption specialist to discuss your concerns. If we year inflation, supply chain yard waste or recycled. Carts will be uniform in shape
are unable to resolve the matter, you have the right to impacts, labor shortages, and color, thereby improving the appearance of our
file a petition for adjustment with the Value Adjustment and more. At the Town of neighborhoods.
Board (VAB). Jupiter, we are seeing fewer 2. Automated garbage trucks equipped with a lifting
The VAB is administered by Palm Beach County’s firms bidding on contracts, mechanism on the side will pick up new carts and empty
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, which is and bids are often higher the contents into the truck. In Abacoa, a semi-automated
independent of the Property Appraiser’s Office. The (or the level of service is lower) than what was originally service featuring smaller trucks using a hydraulic
Board is made up of five individuals: two from the estimated. Despite these challenges, the town is working “tipper” will be used. This type of service stabilizes
county’s board of commissioners, one from the county’s hard to negotiate and secure the best possible rates and levels costs and makes the collection service more efficient.
school board, and two citizen members. They approve and of service for residents. 3. Waste must be placed in the provided garbage
use special magistrates who are experienced in property This is why my colleagues and I recently approved carts in order to be picked up. Because the carts are
appraisal techniques or legal matters to conduct hearings the award of an eight-year franchise agreement to Waste specially designed to work with the automated and
and recommend decisions to the VAB for final approval. Management. This contractor has served the town of Jupiter semi-automated collection trucks, garbage set out in
Special magistrates will review property valuation, for decades, but the specter of a rate hike coupled with fewer bags or in noncompliant bins will not be collected.
denials of portability, deferrals, and change of ownership pickups upon a five-year renewal led the town to put the 4. In the new agreement, Waste Management will
or control determinations. All final rulings are determined contract out for bid. Upon the completion of this public process collect yard waste in excess of eight cubic yards on the
by the VAB. with three competitive bids, Waste Management won the customer’s next scheduled collection day (not before);
Filing A Petition award with a rate nearly half that of the second lowest bidder eight cubic yards at a time, until completely collected.
Florida law sets the deadlines for filing a petition on and with the same number of regular pickups each week. 5. Waste Management will assign a customer service
or before the 25th day following the mailing of the notice While the company and number of regular pickups will representative to work at the town’s offices during the
from our office. This year’s deadline is Sept. 12. These remain the same, residents can expect a few big changes, first month of collections. This service representative
deadlines do not change, even if you choose to discuss largely as a result of collections becoming an automated or will assist in addressing any resident concerns.
the issue with our office. The VAB may charge $15 or semi-automated service. Here is what to expect before the The town will be sending out information on the new
more for filing a petition. new program begins on March 1, 2023: service in the coming weeks.
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 Peripheral
your hearing date. You can reschedule your hearing once for
good cause. If your hearing is rescheduled, the clerk will send Neuropathy?
notice at least 15 days before the rescheduled hearing.
FREE Consultation
for Acupuncture
561-745-1002
654 West Indiantown
THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO
REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER Road, Jupiter, FL 33458
Todd E. Wallace, CFE, RES, Commercial Appraiser III, at SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT WHICH IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND
WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED
a virtual VAB hearing in 2021. This year, VAB hearings will OR REDUCED FEE SERVICES, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT. www.drlaruffa.com
be held both virtually and in-person.