CITIZEN STAFF REPORT

INEZ — Martin County residents looking to appeal their real property assessment have a two-week window that started Monday to request a conference with officials from the Martin County Property Valuation Administrator’s (PVA) office.

Bobby Hale Jr., the Property Valuation Administrator, has officially announced that the county’s real property tax roll will be open for public scrutiny from Aug. 14-28. Any residents wanting to discuss their assessments are urged to call the PVA Office at 606-298-2807 to schedule an appointment. The office will accommodate residents from Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and also operate on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

This public inspection is in connection with the property assessments dated Jan. 1, 2023.

For those interested in a hands-on look, the tax roll is available for inspection at the Property Valuation Office, located within the Martin County Government Center. Either the property valuation administrator or a deputy will be present to assist individuals in reviewing the property tax roll. Telephone conferencing has also been made available for residents who may find it challenging to be present physically.

Taxpayers who wish to appeal any real property assessment by the PVA must first have a conference with the PVA during this inspection period. If, after this conference, a taxpayer remains dissatisfied with an assessment, they have the right to appeal with the county board of assessment appeals. Appeals must be filed with the county clerk’s office within one work day after the inspection period concludes. Appeals can be filed in person, through a letter, or other written petitions, and should detail the reason for the appeal, property identification, and the taxpayer’s viewpoint on the fair cash value of the property in question.

Taxpayers who neglect to appeal to the county board of assessment appeals or who do not appear before the board — either personally or through a designated representative — will lose the privilege to appeal directly to the Kentucky Claims Commission.

For comprehensive information about property assessments, the appeals process, tax rates, and property tax bill collections, the public can visit the official website at https://revenue.ky.gov/Property/Pages/default.aspx.

Taxpayers concerned about personal property assessments should know that their appeal process differs from real property. Instead of appealing to the county board, they must file their grievances directly with the Department of Revenue, Office of Property Valuation, within 30 days of receiving the assessment notice, abiding by KRS 131.110. The Department of Revenue’s decisions can then be contested at the Kentucky Claims Commission.