Sec. 4-12. - Board of assessment review.

(1)

There shall be a board of assessment review whose members shall be qualified electors of the city. The board of assessment review shall consist of five (5) members appointed by the Mayor, subject to Council approval, at least one (1) member to be a resident of each ward in the City. The members first appointed shall serve for terms of two [2], four [4] and six [6] years respectively, and thereafter one member shall be appointed in each second year for a term of six [6] years. Two (2) additional members shall be appointed for terms of office to conclude in the first and second years thereafter in which there are no members whose terms expire respectively. Thereafter one (1) member shall be appointed in each year, with the exception of the year in which no member's term expires, for a term of six [6] years from the date of expiration of the term for which his or her predecessor was appointed, except that a person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of such term shall be appointed for the remainder of the term. Each member of the board shall hold office until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.

(2)

The board of assessment review shall hear and consider the appeal of any property owner concerning the amount of his or her assessed valuation as determined by the City Assessor. The assessor shall attend all hearings of the board of review in order to explain his or her valuations, but shall have no vote. The board shall keep an accurate record of its proceedings which shall be available for public inspection. If it shall appear that the valuation of any property has been incorrectly or inequitably assessed, the board shall have power to change the assessment.

(3)

The Council shall provide by ordinance for the organization and procedure of the board of assessment review and for the manner of receiving, considering, and disposing of appeals.

(4)

The taking of an appeal to the board of assessment review, or any action thereon, shall not be construed to limit or restrict the right of any taxpayer to apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for relief from any assessed valuation or tax originally determined by the assessor.