Tax schedules endorsed and filed - availability for inspection

All personal property schedules and exhibits or statements attached thereto returned to or secured by the assessor shall be endorsed with the name of the person whose taxable personal property is listed therein and shall be filed in either alphabetical or numerical order and retained for a period of six years, after which time they may be destroyed. Such schedules and accompanying exhibits or statements shall be considered private documents and shall be available on a confidential basis only to the assessor and the employees of his office, the treasurer and the employees of his office, the annual study contractor hired pursuant to section 39-1-104 (16) and his employees, the executive director of the department of revenue and the employees of his office, the administrator and the employees of his office, and the person whose taxable personal property is listed therein. Such exhibits or statements shall be available on a confidential basis to the board and the county board of equalization when information contained in such documents is pertinent to an appeal or protest.