Value Adjustment Board
The Walton County Value Adjustment Board (VAB) serves as the decision-making authority when the taxpayer disagrees with the Walton County Property Appraiser concerning property exemptions, classifications, and value. The VAB Staff handles petition filing and scheduling of quasi-judicial hearings to settle disputes and late filings regarding such exemptions, classifications, and value.
If your concern regarding your assessment, exemption, or special use classification is not settled by the Property Appraiser’s office, you have the right to file a petition and be scheduled before the Value Adjustment Board for a hearing.
The VAB Board is the independent appeals board that has initial jurisdiction over challenges to any property values, denials of exemptions, denials of classifications, and other similar matters. Each year the Clerk of Court acts as Clerk to the Walton County Value Adjustment Board (VAB). The VAB shall consist of two members of the governing body of the county as elected from the membership of the board of said governing body, one of whom shall be elected chairperson, and one member of the school board as elected from the membership of the school board, and two citizen members, one of whom shall be appointed by the county and own homestead property, and one of whom must be appointed by the school board and must own a business occupying commercial space located within the school district. A citizen member may not be a member or an employee of any taxing authority, and may not be a person who represents property owners in any administrative or judicial review of property taxes. (Florida Statute 194.015).
Authority for the Board is vested through Florida Statutes, Chapter 194 and the Florida Administrative Code, Administrative Rule 12D-10.