What are the functions of the Board of Equalization?

The Board of Equalization primarily serves to ensure fairness and equity in property tax assessments. One of its key functions is to inspect tax rolls and correct any inequalities that may exist in assessments. This oversight helps to maintain consistency and fairness across property valuations, ensuring that property owners are taxed equitably based on the true value of their properties.

This function is critical because it directly affects how much each property owner contributes to local tax revenues. By correcting inequalities, the Board helps to eliminate instances where similar properties may be assessed at drastically different values, which could lead to unfair tax burdens.

Other functions you might consider, such as setting property taxes or determining market values, usually fall under the purview of local assessors and tax authorities rather than the Board of Equalization. Enforcing zoning laws, on the other hand, is typically the responsibility of local planning boards or zoning commissions, not the Board of Equalization.