County Board of Equalization. A county board of equalization (board) must meet annually by July 15th or within two weeks of certification of the county assessment rolls, whichever is later. The board must equalize property assessments so that each tract or lot of real property and each article or class of personal property is entered on the assessment list at its true and fair value according to the measure of value used by the county assessor. During the equalization process, the board:

• must raise the valuation of real or personal property that is returned below its true and fair value;
• must reduce the valuation of real of personal property that is returned above it true and fair value;
• may review all claims for real or personal property tax exemptions as determined by the county assessor; and
• must consider any taxpayer appeals from the decisions of the assessor.

The county assessor must correct the real and personal property rolls in accordance with the changes made by the board.

A board is comprised of at least three members and no more than seven members, including alternate members. Board members are appointed for three year terms by the county legislative authority prior to June 1st. Board members must be residents of the county where the board is located. A board may employ one or more hearing examiners to assist the board in conducting hearings. A hearing examiner may hold hearings separate from the board and take testimony from both parties and their witnesses. All hearing examiners must meet the same qualifications for membership as regular board members.

Taxpayer Appeals—Property Valuation. A taxpayer may appeal the annual assessed value of real or personal property by the county assessor by submitting a petition with the board within 60 days of the mailing date of the notice. 

Once a petition is submitted, the assessor must make a compilation of comparable sales used to establish the contested property's valuation available to the taxpayer. If a methodology other than comparable sales was used, the assessor must provide the taxpayer with the factors used and addresses of any other properties used in making the valuation assessment. The information must be available no more than 60 days after a petition is filed and at least 21 business days, excluding legal holidays, before a board hearing on a petition. 

If the assessor has found new evidence supporting its valuation, the assessor must provide the taxpayer and board with the new evidence at least 21 business days before a board hearing. 

A taxpayer who lists comparable sales on a notice of appeal may not subsequently change such sales unless the taxpayer has found new evidence supporting the proposed valuation. The taxpayer must then provide the assessor and board any such new evidence at least 21 business days, excluding legal holidays, before a board hearing. 

Upon hearing a taxpayer appeal, a board must notify the taxpayer and assessor of its decision within 45 days of the hearing. 

A county assessor must make valuation assessment information available to an appealing taxpayer at least 28 business days, rather than 21 business days, before a board hearing on the taxpayer’s petition. Any new evidence found by the assessor to support its valuation must be provided to the appealing taxpayer at least 28 business days, rather than 21 business days, before the hearing. 

The new timeline applies to appeal petitions filed on or after July 1, 2026.