Purpose


The purpose of these proposed rule changes is to set forth administrative review procedures and standards for making board decisions and special magistrate recommended decisions including the value of property, the denial of exemptions, the denial of classifications and deferrals. Notices for rule development workshops at which versions of these proposed new and amended rules were also discussed were published on: July 11, 2008, for a workshop that was held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on July 28, 2008 (see Vol. 34, No. 28, pp. 3613-3614 of the Florida Administrative Weekly/F.A.W.); July 18, 2008, for a workshop that was held in Live Oak, Florida, on August 6, 2008 (see Vol. 34, No. 29, p. 3668 of the F.A.W.); July 18, 2008, for a workshop that was held in Tallahassee, Florida, on August 12, 2008 (see Vol. 34, No. 29, p. 3668 of the F.A.W.); September 19, 2008, for a workshop that was held in Tampa, Florida, on October 13, 2008 (see Vol. 34, No. 38, p. 4803, of the F. A.W.); September 19, 2008, for a workshop that was held in Panama City, Florida, on October 17, 2008 (see Vol. 34, No. 38, p. 4803, of the F.A.W.); October 31, 2008, for a workshop that was held in Orlando, Florida, on November 19, 2008 (see Vol. 34. No.44, pp. 5709-5711 of the F.A.W.); and, October 31, 2008, for a workshop that was held in Miami, Florida, on November 20, 2008 (see Vol. 34, No. 44, pp, 5709-5711 of the F.A.W.). Members of the public attended each of these workshops and made comments on the proposed rules. In addition, written comments have been submitted to the Department by email, and to an Internet site at http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/property/vabwb/vabws.html, which was created specifically to give the public access to all versions of the proposed rules, to give the public a site to submit comments, and to view the comments submitted by others. The preliminary text of the proposed rules will be available from the contact person listed below or from the Department’s website stated above on or about December 19, 2008. The deadline for submitting written comments on the draft which will be posted on or about December 19, 2008 is January 16, 2009. General comments, questions, or suggestions about the value adjustment board process may be submitted to the Department at VAB@dor.state.fl.us. The effect of these proposed rule changes is to set forth clear, equitable, and uniform administrative review procedures and standards for taxpayers who petition property tax matters to Value Adjustment Boards, including the value of property, the denial of exemptions, and the denial of classifications and deferrals.