Lake County holds training for County Board of Equalization, outlines property-valuation and appeals procedures

Assessor Mark Wadsworth led a training session for the Lake County Board of County Commissioners on procedures the panel will follow when acting as the County Board of Equalization (CBOE), including hearing rules, valuation methods and the timeline for issuing determinations.

Wadsworth told commissioners that petitioners and the assessor each will have five minutes to present at a hearing, petitioners may rebut the assessor—s presentation, and the board may ask questions during testimony. He said the board will not issue decisions on the spot: determinations will be completed after the hearing season and mailed to property owners no later than Nov. 3.

The training matters because the CBOE will hear property-value protests that directly affect tax bills and may be appealed to higher review. Wadsworth, who runs the assessor—s office, walked the commissioners through how market data, inspection limitations and administrative rules affect valuations and what evidence the board should expect when it convenes hearings.

Wadsworth described key technical rules the board will use. He said residential values must be based on comparable sales (the market approach), and the assessor used sales from July 1, 2022, through June 30,…