If you own a home in Manatee County, keep an eye on your mailbox this month — TRIM notices are going out now. TRIM stands for Truth in Millage, and it isn't a bill. It's a notice of your property's assessed value as of January 1st, along with the proposed tax rates from the county, school board, and other local taxing authorities, so you can see roughly where your tax bill is headed before anything is set in stone. Here's the part most people don't realize: you have a real window to ask questions or push back if something looks off. From the day your notice is mailed, you get 25 days to file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board if you disagree with the assessed value — your exact deadline is printed right on the notice. The Property Appraiser's office will also just talk you through the numbers over the phone before you go the formal appeal route, if that's easier. Has your TRIM notice shown up yet — anything on it catch you off guard?

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