Ways & Means hears plan to overhaul property-appeals process for RADs

The Department of Taxes told the Ways & Means Committee on Feb. 6 that the administration of property appeals should change to fit regional assessment districts, recommending RAD appeals boards and a permanent department hearing officer.

Kirby Keane described the department’s suggestion "to replace that [DCA step] with a RAD appeals board," proposing that municipalities collectively appoint panelists for those boards. The department also recommended creating a permanent property-evaluation hearing officer and a docket clerk housed at the department rather than relying on multiple part-time hearing officers.

Committee members called the appeals proposal the most complex implementation issue from last year’s work and urged further coordination with the Agency of Administration (GovOps) and Judiciary to ensure legal and logistical feasibility. Rebecca Samoroff said funding and staffing for full-time roles were not part of this year’s budget request and would require further work.

The committee asked staff to stay engaged with the department and working groups on appeals design and to return with more detailed proposals before any legislative change was drafted.