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Committee moves to public hearing a proposal to increase Board of Assessment Appeals membership for second assessment year
Summary
The Ordinance Committee agreed to move a proposed change to Section 103-14 to public hearing: during the second assessment year following a revaluation the Board of Assessment Appeals (BAA) membership would increase to ease workload. Volunteers on the BAA urged the change, citing a large volume of appellants in prior cycles.
The Ordinance Committee voted Feb. 18 to send a proposed amendment to Section 103-14 — which governs appointment and membership of the Board of Assessment Appeals (BAA) — to public hearing next month. The proposed change would increase the number of regular and alternate BAA members during the assessment year immediately following a revaluation in order to handle higher appeal volumes.
Brian (staff) explained the existing ordinance allows additional members in the year following a revaluation; the requested amendment would increase membership to provide more regular and alternate members during the second assessment year of a revaluation cycle to handle expected caseloads. The proposal cites General Statutes 9-199(c) and staff said corporation counsel approved the language.
Long-serving volunteer BAA members Donald Overton and Doris Ash told the committee the board handles hundreds of appellants during peak years. Overton said the board heard 755 appellants during the last revaluation year and warned a smaller panel could be overwhelmed in the second year of phase-in. Doris Ash described the volunteer nature of the board and noted statutory time constraints for hearings and deliberations.
"We only have a month by statute. And in that month, we have to do all of the hearings and we have to complete all of the deliberations," Doris Ash said, explaining why more volunteers provide schedule flexibility to hear residents.
Committee members said the testimony persuaded them to move the amendment to public hearing. A motion (mover: Josh Goldstein) carried; the committee recorded there were sufficient votes to proceed and planned a public hearing at the next committee meeting. Brian noted the change had been reviewed by corporation counsel and that the appointment process remains subject to Common Council confirmation where required.
Background: The BAA is a volunteer panel that hears property tax appeals after periodic revaluation. The proposed temporary membership increase would apply to the second assessment year of a revaluation cycle to address workload peaks.
