GAINES GAZETTE
December 2019
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As we celebrate the Christmas holiday, I hope your household is blessed with peace, joy, and the love of family and friends. My favorite part of Christmas is reflecting on the birth of our Savior and all the blessings he has bestowed on us. This year, I count the opportunity to continue serving as your elected taxpayer advocate among my greatest blessings.
On behalf of the Gaines family, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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In mid-November I finished up my 30-county tour with stops in Inyo and Mono Counties. On the first day, I visited Inyo County Assessor Dave Stottlemyre and his staff. We had an interesting discussion about their recent software update and the challenges associated with hiring and training new staff.
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The next day I visited Mono County Assessor Barry Beck. Over lunch, I spoke with him and his staff about on-going BOE educational programs and online resources.
Under its constitutional mandate, the BOE oversees the assessment practices of the state’s 58
county assessors.
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Statewide Assessed Property Values Increase
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At our November meeting, BOE staff
reported
that the total value of California’s taxable property has increased to more than $6.5 trillion. That’s a six percent increase over last year, bringing the increase in value to $374 billion.
This is the ninth consecutive year the total value of California's county and state-assessed properties has increased—a positive sign for our economy and for property owners.
While the increase in property values brings in nearly $75 billion in revenue for local government services and education, I continue to be thankful for Proposition 13, which keeps property tax increases in check.
For 42 years, Prop 13 has saved Californians tens of thousands of dollars annually in property tax payments, money that is put back into the economy to create jobs and foster economic development.
Year over year increases in property values show the economy is moving in the right direction. I’ll keep fighting to protect Prop 13 for the millions of families and small business owners who continue to be hit by wave after wave of new state and local taxes and fees.
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Property Tax Postponement Program
Applications Now Available!
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Applications for the 2019-20 tax year are now available from the State Controller’s Property Tax Postponement Program, which allows homeowners who are seniors, blind, or have a disability to defer current-year property taxes on their principal residence if they meet certain criteria including 40 percent equity in the home and an annual household income of $35,500 or less.
For more information, please visit my
Resources page.
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Thoughts on County Assessor Visits
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When my colleagues and I were sworn in as Members of the Board of Equalization last January, it was clear that the duties of the Board had changed drastically from the time we had begun our individual campaigns for office. In an unprecedented move 18 months earlier, the Legislature passed, and Governor Brown signed, a bill that stripped away a large swath of the Board’s responsibilities and duties.
However, one thing did not change: our constitutional duty to represent the nearly ten million constituents in each of our districts regarding property tax issues. To fulfill these duties to the best of my ability, I knew I needed to meet the 30 County Assessors represented in the First Equalization District. Thus, began the process of scheduling a meeting with each County Assessor to learn about their job and to discuss ways I could help as their BOE representative to deliver fair and equitable property tax assessment throughout California. I am happy to report that I have completed all 30 visits.
From the first visit to Shasta County (2/8/19) to the last visit in Mono County (11/14/19), I gathered a great deal of valuable information on each county’s challenges and victories.
I was amazed by the diversity of the counties. The population differences were vast—from several thousand to many millions. One county has both the highest and lowest places in California and another spans the valley through the mountains and into the desert. Several counties have immense stands of trees, while others have dense urban areas that stretch from one suburb to another. There are counties with huge mining operations and still others with major airports and military bases. Many counties have massive agricultural lands, and others have huge tracts of national and state park lands that are used for recreational purposes. Seeing this diversity firsthand made me realize that County Assessors and their staff must find innovative ways to value property that is consistent and fair to businesses and individual taxpayers. It’s a tough job!
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A common theme among all the Assessors had to do with staffing challenges. It is understandable that any organization would have trouble hiring new employees in this booming economy but the training necessary to qualify as an appraiser or auditor makes it even more difficult.
Every Assessor expressed frustration with the lack of training available to new appraisers and auditors. I agree with the Assessors that more emphasis needs to be placed on recruiting and training these positions. In order to maintain consistent statewide assessments, the BOE must play a larger role in developing curriculum and providing training. To that end, the Board has established a workgroup to address statewide workforce challenges facing all organizations involved with the administration of property tax. In the next couple of months we will meet with various experts to determine the best way to address the current shortage of experienced appraisers, a situation that will only be exacerbated by the retirement of many skilled employees in the next decade.
Additionally, I want to take a moment to acknowledge current staff in all the offices I visited. Whether they were new to the job, mid-career, or a few years from retiring, I found all the staff I met were competent and customer-service oriented. I was also impressed by the age diversity throughout the offices, which provides a good mix of experience and ensures that taxpayers continue to have their property assessed fairly and accurately.
So what does this mean to the average taxpayer reading my newsletter? It means I have met with the Assessor and staff in every county in the First District and am confident they are doing the best they can under challenging circumstances. However, no organization is perfect and mistakes happen. If you have an assessment issue, feel free to call my office. My staff and I are happy to help in any way we can.
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Analysis Confirms Sky-High Gas Prices
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In October, the California Energy Commission released an
analysis
on gasoline prices, showing that California drivers paid an average of 30 cents more
per gallon
in 2018, with the difference as high as $1 per gallon in April of this year. The result is California drivers paid an additional $11.6 billion at the pump over the last five years.
Of course, we didn’t need a special analysis to tell us this. We all know how out-of-control state gas prices have gotten every time we fill our tanks. According to the Western States Petroleum Association, California’s fuel taxes and standards—some of the strictest in the nation—account for the first $1.07 per gallon at the pump.
Every time I think about CEQA-driven housing prices, green energy mandates pushing our electricity rates above the national average, and gas prices that increase the cost of owning and driving a car, I start to wonder if legislators are holding a contest to see how expensive we can make staple goods and how unlivable we can make this state for poor and middle class families. As I’ve said many times, transportation is a basic need that allows Californians to support themselves and their families.
It’s imperative we figure out how to make California more affordable. We can start by reining in the state’s ridiculous regulatory environment and reducing the gas tax.
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As a Board Member, my number one priority is to advocate for taxpayers. I believe hardworking Californians deserve to have someone working on their behalf to streamline and promote efficiency in state government.
Should you need assistance with tax-related problems or have questions, visit my
website
for information on how to contact my office or
email
me directly anytime.
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Monthly Board Meeting: December 17, 2019 in Sacramento
Monthly Board Meeting: January 28/29, 2020 in Sacramento
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