The Value Adjustment Board (VAB) serves as the decision-making authority when there is disagreement between the property owner and Property Appraiser concerning exemptions, valuations and classifications. Petition filing and scheduled quasi-judicial hearings are handled by the VAB to settle any disputes. The Board Records Department of the Clerk of the Circuit Court has been designated to serve as the Clerk to the Value Adjustment Board and all processes related to VAB are administered by this department.
The current members of the Washington County VAB are:
Tray Hawkins, Commissioner
Steve Joyner, Commissioner
Sheldon Peel
Gary Hartman
Lou Cleveland, School Board
Authority for the VAB is vested through Florida Statute 194.015
General Information
- A $15 non-refundable filing fee must be submitted with each petition UNLESS the petition is appealing the denial of a timely filed application for homestead exemption or denial of a homestead tax deferral. Payment should be made payable to the Clerk of Court. NO Personal Checks accepted.
- Petitions filed on behalf of a property owner by an unlicensed agent must be signed by the property owner or accompanied by written authorization from the property owner.
- The petition must have the petitioner’s original signature. Copies or faxed petitions will NOT be accepted.
The petition must be submitted on the form issued by the Department of Revenue.
Note: if these petition forms are used, the forms must be printed out and submitted with the applicable filing fees to the:
Clerk of Court, Post Office Box 647, Chipley, Fl 32428
Contact the Property Appraiser at (850) 638-6205 for petition submission deadline dates or the VAB Clerk at (850) 638-6233. Petitions received after the deadline must be accompanied by written reasons for good cause as to why the petition was submitted after the deadline.
- Petition to Value Adjustment Board
- Attachment to Single Joint Petition for Multiple Units
Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference Petition (Portability).
Value Adjustment Board procedural rules and requirements have been adopted by the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR):
- DOR VAB Policies & Procedures Manual
- Other Legal Resources Including Statutory Criteria
- Reference Materials Including Guidelines
- DOR VAB Petition Guide for Taxpayers
Florida Statute 286.011 is also known as Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Law.
You can obtain the current Government-In-The-Sunshine manual from myfloridalegal.com.
You may view all of the information regarding the Value Adjustment Board process on the DOR website: http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/property/vab/.
- Request for Withdrawals
- Frequently Asked Questions
Other Services: Click here for additional information on exemption filing from the Property Appraisers Website.
F.A.C. 12D-9.017 Ex Parte Communication Prohibition
No participant, including the petitioner, the property appraiser, the board clerk, the special magistrate, a member of a value adjustment board, or other person directly or indirectly interested in the proceeding, nor anyone authorized to act on behalf of any party shall communicate with a member of the board or the special magistrate regarding the issues in the case without the other party being present or without providing a copy of any written communication to the other party.
All questions and concerns should be directed to the Clerk to the Value Adjustment Board which shall ensure that no ex parte communication occurs.
