Assessor staff flag likely rise in current-use removals; appeals timing under review with DOR

County staff told the Board of Equalization that the assessor's office is reviewing current-use program files and expects an increase in voluntary or administrative removals, which could generate more appeals this year.

Gordon (board member) summarized the assessor-office update, saying Pamela McCarter, who reviews current-use assessments, indicated the office is rechecking records and that "a lot of them don't qualify still," so removals could increase. Board members described a preliminary count in which one reviewer had about seven potential removals, another person had one or two, and more filings were expected.

According to the board's description of procedures, a property owner must receive a written removal notice from the assessor's office and the assessor must file the notice with the auditor's office; the date of the assessor's letter triggers the 30-day period for filing an appeal. A staff member reported one petition had been mailed to the assessor's office instead of the Board of Equalization, causing it to arrive after the 30-day deadline.

A staff member said they had "a call in the DOR" (Department of Revenue) to ask whether a late-filing waiver or other relief is available in that case. The board did not adopt any new rule at the meeting; members asked staff to clarify the DOR process and report back.

Board members emphasized that removals and subsequent appeals will follow statutory and administrative timelines and that staff will seek clarification from the Department of Revenue where exceptions or late filings occur.