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Okeechobee County VAB votes not to offer electronic hearings at this time
Summary
After hearing pros and cons, the Okeechobee County Value Adjustment Board voted not to offer electronic (virtual) hearings, citing staff workload and a preference for in-person testimony; the motion passed unanimously.
The Okeechobee County Value Adjustment Board voted not to offer electronic hearings during its 2025 hearing schedule, deciding to require in-person appearances unless public demand prompts reconsideration.
Clerk Thomas Hudek explained that state rules require electronic hearings in some larger counties but that Okeechobee County's current population does not compel offering them. Board members and participants discussed accessibility benefits for petitioners who have difficulty attending in person and the extra workload electronic hearings would create for clerk staff. One board member said electronic access could help people with anxiety or mobility challenges, while others said petitioners generally prefer to speak in person.
Vice Chairman Bradley Goodbread moved to decline a digital offering at this time; the motion was seconded by Anita Nunez and carried unanimously. The board left open the option to revisit electronic hearings if public demand increases.
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