“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 bought a new home in Broward County. When does the Broward County Property Appraiser mail the 2016 proposed tax notices and what is the best way to contact your office if we have questions regarding our property’s 2016 valuation and exemptions?
The Wilsons, Hollywood, FL (via email)
On August 12, 2016, the Broward County Property Appraiser will mail over 770,000 Proposed Tax (TRIM) Notices to property owners on behalf of the various Broward County taxing authorities. The 2016 TRIM Notices will provide property owners information on their 2016 property assessment, exemptions, proposed tax amounts and proposed tax rates. These notices 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 listed on the TRIM Notice. The TRIM Notice will include phone numbers for each taxing authority, as well as the schedule of the budget public hearings. Each taxing authority is required to hold two hearings before setting the tax rate. These agencies 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, 2016 and grants exemptions to qualified applicants. If you believe you may be eligible for an exemption you are not currently receiving, you can still late file for all 2016 exemptions until September 19, 2016. For exemption questions and assistance, please call 954.357.6830 or email Kelly Brown at kbrown@bcpa.net. If you believe the market value of your property, as stated on your 2016 TRIM Notice is not what a buyer would have reasonably paid for your property on January 1, 2016, you must contact our office or file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board by the September 19, 2016 deadline. Please be advised you cannot challenge your actual tax amount, but rather your property assessment. If you would like to discuss your 2016 property assessment please call or email or visit our office. 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. You may also contact me directly at 954.357.6904 or by email at lparrish@bcpa.net. Our office is located at 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 111, Fort Lauderdale. The office is open from 7:00AM to 6:00PM (Monday – Friday). To better accommodate the schedules of working families, our office will be open on Saturday, August 27 and Saturday, September 10 from 8:30AM to 5:00PM.
If after speaking to one of our appraisers, you still disagree with our determination of the 2016 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 19, 2016. You may also file a petition online with the VAB https://bcvab.broward.org/axiaweb2016. Should you have any questions regarding the VAB, please contact their office directly at vab@broward.org or 954.357.7205.
Should you need additional information about 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. (7/16)