District of Columbia Code Division VIII. General Laws. § 47-805. Office of Real Property Tax Ombudsman.

(a) There is created within the Office of the Mayor the Office of the Real Property Tax Ombudsman (“Office”), which shall be headed by the Real Property Tax Ombudsman (“Ombudsman”), who shall be appointed by the Mayor pursuant to § 1-523.01 (a), as a statutory employee in the Excepted Service pursuant to § 1-609.08.  The Ombudsman shall serve for a term of 5 years.  The Ombudsman shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.

(b) The Ombudsman shall appoint staff and additional personnel as provided for in an approved budget and financial plan for the District.

(c) The Ombudsman shall:

(d) The Ombudsman may assist an owner with matters concerning an abutting lot where the abutting lot and the Class 1 property are owned by the same owner.

(e) The Ombudsman shall not appear on behalf of Class 1 real property owners in any court, administrative, or quasi-judicial proceeding.

(f) The Office of the Chief Financial Officer may share confidential tax information with the Ombudsman.

(g) For purposes of this section, the term “Class 1 real property owner” shall have the same meaning as provided in § 47-813(c-3)(1);  provided, that the term owner as used in § 47-813(c-3)(1) shall be construed broadly and include the persons defined as owners in § 47-802 as well as other persons with an equitable interest in the property, and any other persons the Ombudsman determines to be appropriate representatives of the property owner (or, if applicable, the property owner's estate), or any other persons the Ombudsman determines to be consistent with the purposes of this section.