Board of Equalization results announced

Each year after the assessment notices are mailed there is a period of time where taxpayers can appeal their property assessment value to the Board of Equalization (BOE)

Before that, there is opportunity to come in or correspond with our office to discuss an assessment value. This year the “Inquiry” period was from June 8 through June 28. If we find errors or receive new information about a property we can lower or raise the assessment value at that time.

The BOE time frame began on June 29th and ended this year on July 16th when the BOE concluded their business. The BOE is a Board made up of the County Commissioners wearing a different hat and sitting as the BOE. During the BOE time period, only that Board can change property assessment values.

This year we had 185 taxpayers actually go to BOE hearings. Two of the taxpayers were developers and represented 150 parcels in subdivisions. Therefore the total number of parcels appealed was 335 out of over 44,000 parcels.

Of that number, 291 values were upheld, upon receiving new information at the BOE our office recommended reducing 18 values which were approved by the BOE. There were 26 parcels whose value was lowered by the BOE. Believe it or not, there were also a couple of taxpayers who wanted their values raised.

Any taxpayer who did not agree with the BOE decision on their property can further appeal to the State Board of Tax appeals. There is no cost to file such an appeal and that Board comes to Sandpoint to conduct the hearings. Any appeal after that goes to District Court.

As always, your actual tax bill will depend on the approved budgets of all the taxing entities relating to your property.

Thanks to all the people who exercised their right of appeal and to the BOE, the Assessor’s staff and the Commissioners staff for their participation.