Board of Equalization hears dozens of appeals, orders parcel-by-parcel changes

The Prince George County Board of Equalization heard appeals from more than 50 property owners and considered dozens of parcel-specific adjustments, many tied to wetland and restrictive-easement treatments in the county assessment model. Chair (speaker 1) led the meeting through an agenda of sworn testimony, staff presentations and motions that stretched across the morning and afternoon.

County contractor Vision presented maps and tables showing how land-influence factors and depreciation tables were applied. Jason Cowan (Vision, speaker 5) told the panel that the firm had run sales-based models and recommended targeted adjustments where wetlands or access constraints materially reduced marketability. As Cowan put it during his presentation, "we have a 10% wetlands adjustment and a 20–25% restrictive-easement adjustment applied in several cases to equalize parcels" (Vision staff, speaker 5).

Board members repeatedly underscored that the panel's role is to address assessed values supported by evidence, not to reopen countywide policy. Where disputes about deeded acreage or map errors appeared, the board instructed appellants to file a correction form with the assessor so staff could reconcile recorded plats and GIS layers. In several high-profile cases (see articles below) the board accepted county recommendations; in others, members voted to lower proposed assessments after hearing appellant testimony.