For the purpose of hearing objections filed in writing to any assessments or valuations fixed as provided for herein, the boards of equalization shall sit at the courthouse in their respective counties on the date specified by the Department of Revenue in each year, and shall continue as long as may be necessary; provided, that the sitting shall not be extended beyond the second Monday in July, unless otherwise ordered by the Department of Revenue, to dispose of all cases where objections to valuations or assessments have been filed in writing by any taxpayer, as provided in this chapter.

For the purpose of hearing objections filed in writing to any assessments or valuations fixed as provided for herein, in counties where the board of equalization serves full time, the boards of equalization shall sit at the courthouse in their respective counties, beginning on the date specified by the Department of Revenue, to dispose of all cases where objections to valuations or assessments have been filed in writing by any taxpayer, as provided in this chapter. At the sitting the property owner may appear in person, or by agent or attorney, and produce evidence in support of objections, if any, to any assessment or valuation heretofore made, and it shall be the duty of the county board of equalization to examine under oath any complaining property owner and to examine any other witnesses under oath as to the fair and reasonable market value of the property of the owner, and if it is found from the evidence that the valuation theretofore placed was not the amount specified by law based on the reasonable market value of the property, whether more or less, then the valuation or assessment shall be corrected so that it will show the amount specified by law based on a fair and reasonable market value, and the corrected amount shall constitute the assessed value of the property. But if it is found from the evidence that the assessed value placed on the property was the amount specified by law based on a fair and reasonable market value thereof, the value shall stand as the assessed value of the property, unless an appeal is taken therefrom as provided by this chapter.