NMSA 1978, § 7-38-27 — 7-38-27

Protest hearings; verbatim record; action by county
valuation protests board; time limitations.

# A.

Except for the rules relating to discovery, the technical rules of evidence and the
Rules Civil Procedure for the District Courts do not apply at protest hearings before a
county valuation protests board, but the hearing shall be conducted so that an ample
opportunity is provided for the presentation of complaints and defenses. All testimony
shall be taken under oath. A verbatim record of the hearing shall be made but need not
be transcribed unless required for appeal purposes.

# B.

Final action taken by the board on a petition shall be by written order signed by
the chairman or a member of the board designated by the chairman. The order shall be
made within thirty days after the date of the hearing, but this time limitation may be
extended by agreement of the board and the protestant. A copy of the order shall be
sent immediately by certified mail to the property owner. A copy of the order shall also
be sent to the director and the county assessor.

# C.

All protests shall be decided within one hundred eighty days of the date the
protest is filed. The protest shall be denied if the property owner or his authorized
representative fails, without reasonable justification, to appear at the hearing.

# D.

The board's order shall be dated, state the changes to be made in the valuation
records, if any, and direct the county assessor to take appropriate action. The division
shall make any changes in its valuation records required by the order.

# E.

Changes in the valuation records shall clearly indicate that the prior entry has
been superseded by an order of the board.

# F.

The assessor shall maintain a file of all orders made by the county valuation
protests board. The file shall be open for public inspection.

# G.

If an order of a county valuation protests board is appealed under Section 7-38-
28 NMSA 1978, the director shall immediately notify the appropriate county assessor of
the appeal. Notations shall be made in the valuation records of the assessor and the
division indicating the pendency of the appeal.