The Value Adjustment Board (VAB) meets annually to review Petitions relating to appeals of denial of exemption or denial of classification and the Property Appraiser's assessed value of real property or tangible personal property. Hearings are conducted by Special Magistrates, who are qualified real estate appraisers, personal property appraisers, or attorneys, selected by the VAB to make recommendations on Petitions. Under Florida Law, the Property Appraiser's assessment is supported by a "presumption of correctness" and the burden of proof falls on the Petitioner contesting the validity and/or value of the Property Appraiser's assessment.
The VAB consists of two County Commissioners, one School Board Member, and two citizen members, one each appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and the District School Board, who are governed by Chapter 194, Florida Statutes, and Rule Chapter 12D 10, Florida Administrative Code.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller is the Clerk to the VAB. The Clerk provides information and forms pertaining to the petition process by which a property owner can challenge the valuation, exemption, or classification assigned to the property.
Filing the Petition: Petitions must be received by the filing deadline in the Office of the Clerk to the VAB. There is a $15 non-refundable filing fee, which helps to defray the expenses associated with the VAB functions. Petition forms may be obtained from the Clerk to the Board's Office, the Clerk's website, the Property Appraiser's Office, or the Department of Revenue's website, http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/forms.
Petition(s) and filing fee should be submitted to:
Honorable Ernie Lee Magaha
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Clerk to the Value Adjustment Board
221 Palafox Place, Suite 130
Pensacola, Florida 32502-5843
Phone: (850) 595-3920