(a)
(1) The county equalization board, on petition of the county judge or on its own motion, shall, at any time, convene in special session for the purpose of planning its work of equalization of property assessments.
(2) For this purpose only, the county equalization board shall be vested and charged with all the powers and duties with which the county equalization board is vested and charged when meeting in regular session. In addition, the county equalization board shall be empowered to employ qualified appraisers, abstractors, or other persons needed to appraise properties, which appraisal the county equalization board may need in the discharge of its duties.
(b)
(1) The expense of any special session of the county equalization board, including the expense for employment of appraisers, abstractors, and other persons needed shall be allowed and paid from the general fund of the county.
(2) The general fund of the county shall be reimbursed by transfer to it from the funds of the respective taxing units of the county, and the amount to be contributed by each taxing unit shall be in the proportion that the total of the ad valorem taxes collected for the benefit of each taxing unit bears to the total of the ad valorem taxes collected for the benefit of all taxing units during the collection period next following the special session.