The county board of equalization is the first level of administrative appeal for all complaints regarding the assessment, classification and valuation of property for tax purposes. Board duties include examining and equalizing county assessments, assuring that all taxable properties are included on the assessment lists, eliminating exempt properties from taxation, hearing complaints of aggrieved taxpayers, decreasing over-assessed property, increasing under-assessed property and correcting clerical mistakes. T.C.A. §§ 67-1-401 et seq., 67-5-1401 et seq.

Composition of the Board

At the April session in each even year, the county legislative body elects five “freeholders and taxpayers” from the different sections of the county to serve as the county board of equalization.¹(Note: T.C.A. § 67-1-401 contains numerous exceptions for counties and cities specified through population class.) Members of the board of equalization serve two year terms. If the county legislative body fails to elect these members, then the county mayor makes the appointments and fills the vacancies as they occur.²Magistrates along with state, municipal or county legislative and executive officials, as well as their employees, are ineligible to serve, except in some circumstances in Shelby County.³

In addition to its regular appointments, an appointing authority may designate one or more alternates, and the board of equalization chair may call upon an alternate to sit for a regular member who becomes unavailable for a particular hearing due to disqualification or other reason. A duly appointed alternate shall be sworn in the same manner as regular members, and any action taken by a duly appointed alternate shall be as effective as if taken by the unavailable individual.⁴