Sunday, February 15, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Judge rules tax appeal hearings can continue
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
RENO -- Rejecting a request by a group of Incline Village property owners upset over soaring property taxes, a judge has ruled a Washoe County board can continue to hold tax appeal hearings.
The Village League to Save Incline Assets, represented by Reno lawyer Suellen Fulstone, criticized Washoe District Judge Steven Elliott's ruling Friday.
The group from the upscale north Lake Tahoe community said it would file for an emergency order before the Nevada Supreme Court to stop the Board of Equalization hearings.
"His interpretation of the law leaves a lot to be desired," property owner Ted Harris told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
At issue is whether people who appeal for a break in their property-tax values should be given 21 or three working days' notice by the board to prepare a case.
A 2001 state law requires 21-day notice when a governmental entity takes an administrative action "against a person," while the state open meeting law requires a three-day notice.
Elliott ruled that the three-day notice was the law, and the 21-day notice does not apply to equalization board proceedings because no action is taken "against a person."
