“Ask Lori…Parrish on Appraisal”
Broward County Property Appraiser Lori Parrish Answers Your Questions…
“It’s TRIM Time for Broward County Residents!”
Dear Lori:
We just received our “Do Not Pay” proposed property tax notice from your office. What is the best way to contact your office as we have a few questions regarding our valuation and exemptions?
The Millers, Pompano Beach, FL (via email)
Beginning August 12, the Broward County Property Appraiser will begin mailing the 2015 “Truth-in-Millage” (TRIM) Notices to property owners on behalf of the various Broward County taxing authorities. The over 768,000 “TRIM” Notices will be sent, providing property owners with their 2015 property assessment information, exemptions, proposed tax amounts and proposed tax rates. These notices also inform property owners of their right to both appeal their property assessment and to attend their various taxing authority budget hearings regarding the proposed tax rates.
The Property Appraiser’s Office does not set tax rates or collect taxes. If you wish to discuss the proposed tax rate or any new fees or fee increases on your TRIM Notice, you should contact the County Commission, School Board, City Commission and other taxing authorities. The TRIM Notice will include phone numbers for each taxing authority, as well as the schedule of public budget hearings. Each taxing body is required to hold two hearings before they set the tax rate. They welcome comments from taxpayers like you when setting their budgets and tax rates.
The Property Appraiser’s Office determines the property’s market value as of January 1 and grants exemptions to qualified applicants. If you believe the market value of your property is not what a buyer would have reasonably paid for your property on January 1, 2015, you must contact our office or file a value petition with the Value Adjustment Board by the September 18, 2015 deadline. If you believe you may be eligible for an exemption you are not currently receiving you can still file for all 2015 exemptions until September 18, 2015. You can call, e-mail or visit our office to discuss your property assessment. For residential properties, please call 954.357.6831 or email Scott Lewis at slewis@bcpa.net. For condo, co-op and timeshare properties, please call 954.357.6832 or email Maureen Morrison at mmorrison@bcpa.net. For commercial properties, please call 954.357.6862 or email Vincent Clark at vclark@bcpa.net. For exemption questions and assistance, please call 954.357.6830 or email Kelly Brown at kbrown@bcpa.net. Or you can contact Property Appraiser Lori Parrish at 954.357.6900 or email me at lparrish@bcpa.net. You may also visit our office located at 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 111, Fort Lauderdale. Our office is open weekdays from 7:00AM to 6:00PM. To better accommodate the schedules of working families, our office will be open on Saturday, August 29 and Saturday, September 12 from 8:30AM to 5:00PM.
If after speaking to one of our appraisers, you still disagree with our determination of market value, we will help you file an appeal petition directly with the Value Adjustment Board (VAB). All valuation petitions must be received by the VAB (115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 120, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301) by close of business on September 18, 2015. You may also file a petition online with the VAB https://bcvab.broward.org/axiaweb2015. Should you have any questions regarding the VAB, please contact their office directly at vab@broward.org or 954.357.7205.
For additional information on property assessments, exemptions, and the TRIM Notice, please visit www.bcpa.net or call 954.357.6830.
Sincerely,
Lori Parrish, CFA
If you have a question for Lori, please email her at lori@bcpa.net or write to her at the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 111, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. (8/15)