(1) At the request of the assessor, the governing body of the city and county of Denver may elect to use the pilot alternate protest procedure described in subsection (2) of this section to determine objections and protests concerning valuations of taxable property rather than use other provisions of this article. The election shall not be made unless the assessor has requested the use of an alternate protest procedure. The election shall be made on or before May 1 and shall be effective for all objections and protests concerning valuations of taxable property for that year and for all future years until the governing body elects not to follow the pilot alternate protest procedure or this section is repealed pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. A governing body that elects not to follow the pilot alternate protest procedure, after previously electing to follow such procedure, must do so on or before March 1. The governing body of the city and county of Denver shall provide notice of an election pursuant to this subsection (1) to the board of assessment appeals and to the district court in such county.

(2)

(a) The city and county of Denver shall amend the notices required by sections 39-5-121 and 39-5-122 to provide notice that all objections and protests concerning valuation of taxable property shall be determined in accordance with this section.

(b) If any taxpayer is of the opinion that his or her property has been valued too high, has been twice valued, or is exempt by law from taxation or that the property has been erroneously assessed to such person, the taxpayer may file a written objection and protest with the board of county commissioners by delivering or mailing the written objection and protest no later than November 15 of the year in which the notice of valuation was mailed.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (d) of this subsection (2), no decision on any written objection and protest concerning valuation of taxable property shall be made by the board of county commissioners unless a hearing is held thereon, at which hearing the assessor and the taxpayer or the taxpayer's authorized representative shall have the opportunity to be present. The board may appoint independent referees who are experienced in property valuation to conduct the hearing on behalf of the board, to make findings, and to submit recommendations to the board for its final decision. All decisions shall be mailed to the taxpayer or the taxpayer's authorized representative within five business days after the date on which such decision is rendered. If requested by the board of county commissioners, the taxpayer or the taxpayer's authorized representative shall be present at a hearing held pursuant to this paragraph (c) and shall produce information to support the written objection and protest. In the event the board of county commissioners requests the taxpayer or the taxpayer's authorized representative to be present at a hearing, the board of county commissioners shall provide at least thirty days' notice of the hearing, unless the taxpayer or the taxpayer's authorized representative requests a hearing at an earlier date. The board of county commissioners shall provide written notice of the hearing by certified mail, and such written notice shall contain the date, time, and place of the hearing. Upon request of the taxpayer or the taxpayer's authorized representative, the board of county commissioners may reschedule the hearing. If the taxpayer or the taxpayer's authorized representative fails to be present at the hearing when requested by the board of county commissioners, absent good cause, the board of county commissioners shall dismiss the written objection and protest, and the taxpayer or the taxpayer's authorized representative shall not have the right to appeal the dismissal.

(d) Upon authorization by the board of county commissioners, the assessor may review written objections and protests concerning valuation of taxable property and settle by written mutual agreement any such written objection and protest. Any reduction agreed upon and settled pursuant to this paragraph (d) is not subject to the requirements of paragraph (c) of this subsection (2).

(e) Every written objection and protest concerning the valuation of taxable property shall be acted upon pursuant to the provisions of this section by the board of county commissioners or the assessor, as appropriate, within six months of the date of filing such petition.

(f) If the board of county commissioners grants an objection and protest, in whole or in part, the assessor shall adjust the valuation accordingly; but, if the objection and protest is denied, in whole or in part, the taxpayer or the taxpayer's authorized representative may appeal the valuation set by the assessor or, if the valuation is adjusted as a result of a decision of the board of county commissioners, may appeal the adjusted valuation to the board of assessment appeals or to the Denver district court for a trial de novo, or the taxpayer may submit the case to arbitration pursuant to the provisions of section 39-8-108.5. Such appeal or submission to arbitration shall be taken no later than thirty days after the date such denial is mailed pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (2).

(g) If the board of county commissioners does not issue a written decision on an objection or protest for valuation of taxable property before December 1 of the year in which the notice of valuation was mailed, the taxpayer's written objection and protest shall be deemed to be a petition for abatement or refund and shall be determined in accordance with section 39-10-114. If the board of county commissioners, pursuant to section 39-10-114 (1), or the property tax administrator, pursuant to section 39-2-116, denies the petition for abatement or refund of taxes in whole or in part, the taxpayer or the taxpayer's authorized representative may appeal to the board of assessment appeals or to the Denver district court for a trial de novo, or may submit the case to arbitration pursuant to section 39-8-108.5. Such appeal or submission to arbitration shall be taken no later than thirty days after the entry of any such decision.

(3) This section is repealed, effective December 31, 2018.