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Board hires GAR Associates to review 2025 reappraisal and tax-assessment process
Summary
The Board approved a contract with GAR Associates, LLC to evaluate Orange County’s 2025 reappraisal and tax-assessment process, reviewing methodologies, data quality, staffing, appeals, and communication and providing short- and long-term recommendations.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners authorized a contract with GAR Associates, LLC on May 5, 2026, to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the County’s 2025 reappraisal and tax assessment processes. The contract follows public concern and a Tax Assessment Work Group review of recent valuation outcomes.
Scope and tasks: the consultant will review assessment methodologies, the schedule of values, data quality (with emphasis on commercial property valuations), organizational capacity and staffing needs, statistical tools and models, the appeal process, public communications, and the frequency of revaluation cycles. Deliverables include milestone briefings to the Work Group, a draft and final report with actionable recommendations and estimated costs, a public-facing summary, and materials county staff can maintain.
Commissioners emphasized transparency and timeliness. Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford asked that the Board be able to hear the final presentation; Commissioner Earl McKee asked that in‑house review of egregiously undervalued commercial properties be prioritized alongside the vendor work. Chair Jean Hamilton noted the county is recruiting a new tax administrator and considering ordinance amendments to clarify oversight of the tax office.
The motion authorizing the Manager to sign the contract was approved unanimously.
