What is one of the responsibilities of the Board of Equalization?

The Board of Equalization primarily functions to ensure fairness and equity in the assessment of property values within a tax jurisdiction. One of its critical responsibilities is to hear appeals regarding property assessments, including cases where property owners may dispute the denial of covenants. In this context, covenants refer to agreements or restrictions regarding property use that can impact its value or how it is assessed for tax purposes.

When property owners feel that their rights in relation to covenants have been denied, they can appeal to the Board of Equalization. The board reviews the details of the case, considers evidence from both the property owner and the assessing authorities, and makes decisions to uphold or overturn the denial. This function is essential for maintaining a fair assessment process and ensuring that property owners have a pathway to challenge decisions that they believe to be unjust.

In contrast, determining property development plans is not within the scope of the board's responsibilities, as this task generally falls to planning commissions or local government bodies focused on land use. Assessing tax rates is typically under the purview of legislative bodies or tax authorities, not the Board of Equalization. Setting property tax exemptions also falls outside the board's functions; such exemptions are usually established by local or state legislation and not determined by a review