Value Adjustment Board: April 2026

VAB Final Meeting Agenda Packet

[COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING "A" A2-511] Value Adjustment Board (VAB) Final Meeting Agenda for April 30, 2026. The agenda includes approval of minutes from previous meetings, a recap of the 2025 VAB activities, approval of special magistrates' recommendations, authorization for the chairman to execute forms related to tax impact notices and property certifications, and authorization for the VAB clerk to solicit special magistrates for 2026 VAB hearings. Public comment and other business are also on the agenda. [1801 27th Street, Building A, Room A2-511, Vero Beach, Florida] Value Adjustment Board (VAB) Organizational Meeting Minutes from July 29, 2025. The board approved the first amendment to the agreement for legal services with Napier & Rollin, PLLC, setting the attorney rate at $225 per hour. They also approved the minutes from the April 29, 2025 meeting and adopted a filing fee of $50 for the 2025 appeal cycle. Additionally, James Haynes Davis was appointed as a special magistrate for exemption/classification/tax deferral hearings for the 2025 tax year. The rate of pay for attorney special magistrates was set at $125 per hour. Stephen Boyle, Terrie Peltier, Robert Busler, Scott Sehr, and Douglas Lawson were appointed as Appraiser Special Magistrates for the VAB 2025 tax year, with a rate of pay of $125 per hour. Pamela Andrea was appointed as the Special Magistrate for Tangible Personal Property hearings, and Alex Ruden as alternate, with an 8-hour minimum fee and mileage reimbursement. The VAB attorneys were designated to make determinations for late file good cause reviews and to review special magistrates' recommendations for legal sufficiency. The VAB attorneys were also designated to provide special magistrate orientation. The VAB Chairman was approved to review and authorize payment of 2025-2026 VAB invoices. [County Administration Building, 1801 27th Street, Building A, Room A2-511, Vero Beach, Florida] Value Adjustment Board (VAB) Special Call Organizational Meeting Minutes from November 5, 2025. The meeting focused on reviewing 2025 legislation and new procedures. VAB Attorney Nicholas Bykowsky discussed legislative changes affecting VAB operations for the 2025 tax year, including new evidence exchange rules requiring the property appraiser to provide evidence at least fifteen days before a hearing. He also discussed the option for video conference hearings for counties with populations over 75,000. The attorney addressed issues with unauthorized petition filings and recommended a written request for authorization from representatives. A discussion ensued on the increase in the filing fee from $15 to $50, noting it had not deterred frivolous filings. The meeting adjourned without motions, as the agenda consisted solely of statutory and procedural updates. [County Administration Building, 1801 27th Street, Building A, Room A2-511, Vero Beach, Florida; Vero Beach Regional Airport] Value Adjustment Board (VAB) Special Call Organizational Meeting Minutes from February 3, 2026. The board discussed hiring Special Magistrate Attorney Karen Wonsetler to hear two requests for exemption from ad valorem property taxes on publicly owned leased land, scheduled for February 17, 2026. These hearings are expected to be complex due to retained outside legal counsel. Karen Wonsetler was appointed as a Special Magistrate for exemption/classification/assessment difference transfers/tax deferral hearings for the VAB 2025 tax year. Her revised contract includes an eight (8) hour minimum and mileage reimbursement at $0.445 per mile. Value Adjustment Board Hearing Recap for 2015-2025. This table provides a year-over-year comparison of total petitions, petitions filed in error/voids, good cause petitions (granted and denied), total withdrawn petitions (by various categories), and total hearings scheduled (granted, granted in part, denied, and denied no show). For 2025, there were 152 total petitions, 7 good cause petitions denied, 120 total withdrawn petitions, and 25 total hearings scheduled. [31391800009000900010.0, 32403000004004000014.0, 31370000001085900001.1, 33390500001008000001.4, 32401900040000100001.0, 32392600011074000001.1, 33391200000500000070.0, 33391200015000000004.1, 32403200006004000015.0, 33402100009000000001.0, 33402700001000000006.0, 33392700001001000009.0, 33381000002000000001.0, 32403200013000300004.0, 32392600000100000002.0, 33381300007000000007.0, 33400800011000000054.0, 32401800002000000146.0, 33391300006000700034.0, 32392600011016000001.0, 33393300007000000001.0, 33380300009000000001.0, 33403200001000000002.0, 32402900014000000003.0, 33390200004013000018.0; case 2025-001, 2025-004, 2025-005, 2025-010, 2025-012, 2025-013, 2025-019, 2025-020, 2025-023, 2025-048, 2025-053, 2025-080, 2025-083, 2025-090, 2025-093, 2025-101, 2025-102, 2025-106, 2025-107, 2025-108, 2025-110, 2025-115, 2025-117, 2025-123, 2025-143] Value Adjustment Board Special Magistrate Recommendations for Tax Roll 2025, dated April 30, 2026. This document lists 25 petitions with their parcel numbers, owner names, taxable value before adjustment, SM recommended taxable value, recommended reduction, and decision. Notable decisions include 'GRANTED IN PART' for Target Corporation and Ibrahim Sherif, and 'GRANTED' for Ibrahim Sherif, Hoelzer Craig A, Flemmons Jason S (TRS), and Smith Gregory L and Earman Margare. The total taxable value before adjustment was $66,755,055, with a total recommended reduction of $-2,264,786. Notice of Tax Impact of Value Adjustment Board for Indian River County, Tax Year 2025. The notice lists the Board members and provides a summary of the year's actions, including the number of parcels with exemptions, assessments granted, requested, reduced, or settled. It also details the reduction in county taxable value due to board actions. For residential property, 5 assessments were granted, 5 reduced, and 81 requested, resulting in a reduction of $2,264,786 in taxable value and $23,144.08 in taxes due to board actions. Contact information for the Chair and Clerk is provided. Certification of the Value Adjustment Board for Tax Roll Year 2025, dated April 30, 2026. This certification confirms that the Value Adjustment Board of Indian River County has held all required hearings and is satisfied with the assessment roll. It includes figures for taxable value of real property and tangible personal property before and after board actions. For real property, the taxable value submitted was $30,393,572,529, with a net change of $2,264,786 due to board actions, resulting in a final taxable value of $30,391,307,743. The certification also lists procedures followed by the board, including verifying magistrate qualifications and allowing public comment. A similar certification is provided for tangible personal property. Certification of the Value Adjustment Board for Tax Roll Year 2025, dated April 30, 2026. This certification confirms that the Value Adjustment Board of Indian River County has held all required hearings and is satisfied with the assessment roll. It includes figures for taxable value of tangible personal property before and after board actions. The taxable value submitted was $1,315,163,509, with no net change due to board actions, resulting in a final taxable value of $1,315,163,509. The certification also lists procedures followed by the board, including verifying magistrate qualifications and allowing public comment. A similar certification is provided for real property.

Board:

Value Adjustment Board

Date:

2026-04-30

Type:

Agenda_packet

Decision:

Approved

Address:

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING "A" A2-511

Applicant:

Napier & Rollin, PLLC; James Haynes Davis; Stephen Boyle; Terrie Peltier; Robert Busler; Scott Sehr; Douglas Lawson; Pamela Andrea; Alex Ruden