COM 0024.001 2010-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2011 Tax Board of Review Annual Report 4 2. The workshop, which included the Real Property Tax staff and Board Members held prior to the start of this year's appeal hearings, was very informative and productive. Future workshops is encouraged to continue with attendees limited to the current Board Members as well as those Members who are in the process of being approved, the Finance Director, Deputy Director, Tax Administrator, Assistant Tax Administrator, Appraisal Supervisor, Clerical Supervisor, Board Clerk and Corporation Counsel. Again, all information discussed and suggestions presented at the workshop should be provided to the appraisers at a separate meeting or workshop. The Board recommends that the separate workshop be continued and that Administration organize a mandatory island -wide workshop to include all Appraisers prior to the start of the appeal hearings. 3. The presence of Corporation Counsel at each meeting /hearing is very helpful and is encouraged to continue. The Board has relied upon Corporation Counsel in many instances for clarification and interpretation of rules and /or laws. 4. The Board of Review Statewide Conference with participants from other Counties provided Board Members with the opportunity to review issues and laws from each County that affects Real Property Tax Board of Review policies and functions. Providing the Members with a chance to gain more knowledge in different issues as well as being able to interact with other Members from the various Boards, Real Property Tax staff, and Corporation Counsel benefits all those involved. It was great to know that the organizers of this year's conference followed the Board Members' recommendations to continue having the interactive sessions between Attorneys, Board Members and staff, more importantly, agendized break -out sessions which separated all Board Members, Attorneys, Board Secretaries as well as clerical support personnel, and appraisal staff into smaller groups. The purpose of the break -out sessions was the benefit all attendees would receive as discussions could be held on practices, issues, experiences and outcomes for each specific group. The Board recommends that the statewide conference be continued and that the Board's attendance be funded. 5. The Board Members appreciated the Appraisers' efforts to follow their recommendation to standardize the formatting of their data packet and keeping the attachments to a minimum. Maps showing the location of the appealed parcel and the comparables used by some appraisers were very helpful. Such maps should be one of the standard attachments to the appeal data packet. The satellite pictures were also helpful and impressive. 6. The Board again appreciated the presence of the Assistant Tax Administrator who was able to anticipate questions of the Board and had the information at hand or was able to remotely access property tax information via laptop. 7. While the Division has made significant efforts to improve, a few Appraisers could not respond fully to the Boards inquiries. The Board suggests that greater training emphasis be done on establishing additional training on mass appraisal standards. The Board also recommends that in initiating their presentations that the Appraisers identify the data and methodology used for their assessment.