Portland board adopts procedural order, sets tentative July 10 hearing and confidentiality process for assessment appeals

PORTLAND — The Portland Board of Assessment Review on May 22 adopted a procedural order that sets a tentative in-person hearing for July 10, identifies 37 Casco Street as the first “test” appeal among a group of consolidated appeals, and establishes a process for handling confidential materials that parties may resubmit to the board.

The action, adopted by a 3-0 roll-call vote, formalizes earlier informal agreement among appellants and the assessor’s office to pause strict submission deadlines while the parties attempt to reach a resolution. Board Chair Eric Larson said during the meeting, "this is my first not only my first meeting of the board of assessment review, but my first meeting as chair," as he led members through procedural planning.

Board counsel Steven Wagner summarized the meeting’s purpose: "Everything you said is accurate. The point of today's proceedings is to set out a course of procedure for all the appeals," and urged the board to set a schedule that the parties could use if settlement talks do not resolve the consolidated appeals.

Why it matters: The board’s action creates a schedule and processes that structure how a large group of property tax appeals — described in the meeting as roughly 34 separate filings consolidated for procedural planning — would proceed if the parties cannot resolve them. The board also agreed to a confidentiality pathway for proprietary financial or other sensitive documents that appellants want to keep from public posting.

What the board decided and the schedule it endorsed - The board adopted a procedural order as modified at the meeting. The order was approved by all three members present (Eric Larson, Dale Knapp and Lee Lowry). The secretary conducted the roll call and recorded the vote as 3–0 in…