Monday will be the final day for Douglas County property owners to appeal their property assessments mailed out May 15.

According to state law, owners have 45 days from the mailing date of the assessment notices to file a written appeal.

About 26,500 real property and 3,200 personal property assessment notices were mailed in May, according to Benny Waldrop, county chief tax appraiser. If no notice was mailed, the property value remained the same as in 2008, he said.

“Appeals must be in writing and cannot be sent by FAX or e-mail,” Waldrop said. “All appeals must be mailed or filed in person.”

He said if the appeals are mailed, they must be postmarked no later than June 29. Appeals hand delivered to the county Appraisal Department must be in that office by 5 p.m., June 29.

Waldrop said printed appeal form sheets are available from the county Appraisal Department or the appeal can be written in a signed letter which gives the property owner’s name, address and grounds for appeal.

He said all appeals will be reviewed by the county Board of Assessors (BOA) and a letter will be sent to every person appealing, telling them if the BOA is making any changes in evaluation.

“If a change is made and the owner wants to appeal further, he/she must notify the BOA in writing in 21 days that he/she wants to appeal to the Board of Equalization,” Waldrop said. “If nothing is received, the appeal is ended.”

However, he said on property where the BOA makes no changes, the appeal automatically goes to the Board of Equalization.

He said property owners are then contacted by the Board of Equalization secretary to set up a hearing date.

If the property owner is not satisfied with the Board of Equalization ruling, he/she can appeal the case to the Superior Court system.

Additional information is available by calling the Appraisal Department at 770-920-7228 or e-mailing bwaldrop@co.douglas.ga.us.