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` ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 5, 2001 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~ -G <br />SUBJECT: Delegation to Board of Equalization and Review of Power to Compromise <br />DEPARTMENT: Assessor's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Resolution to Delegate <br />Authority to Board of <br />Equalization & Review <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />John Smith, ext 2101 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider a resolution delegating the authority to the Board of Equalization and <br />Review (E&R) to compromise, settle, or adjust tax bills on discovered property. <br />BACKGROUND: When it is determined that property has not been listed and taxed or has not <br />been properly listed and taxed, North Carolina General Statute 105-312 requires that this be <br />corrected and billed through a process referred to as "discovery". Section K of GS 105-312, <br />titled "Power to Compromise", allows for consideration of circumstances and provides for the <br />compromise, settling or adjusting of bills related to discoveries. This same section permits the <br />Board of County Commissioners to delegate this authority to the Board of Equalization and <br />Review. <br />The structure ofi the Board of Equalization and Review provides an appropriate setting for the <br />hearing of details related to discoveries and the deciding of these issues. The Board of <br />Equalization and Review meetings allow ample time and a proper fiorum for in-depth <br />discussions between the Board of Equalization and Review and the taxpayer. During <br />revaluation years, such as 2001 in Orange County, the North Carolina General Statutes <br />authorize the E&R Board to stay in session until December 1. Accordingly, the delegation to <br />the E&R Board of the power to compromise this year could enable the E&R Board to handle <br />this responsibility on behalf of the Board of Commissioners nearly to the end of the current <br />calendar year. <br />Staff recommends that the Board of Commissioners approve the attached resolution delegating <br />authority to the E&R Board to compromise, settle, or adjust the value of discovered property <br />subject to taxation. <br />