GAINES GAZETTE
September 2019
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FIRST INFORMATIONAL HEARING SET FOR SEPTEMBER 19
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The Board of Equalization (BOE) will hold the first of four statewide informational hearings on September 19 in San Diego to gather information from tax experts and the public on how to modernize California’s property tax system.
We have extended an invitation to County Assessors, taxpayers, taxpayer advocates, and other stakeholders to participate and provide comments.
The
first hearing
will focus on emerging issues that affect the administration of property taxes and bring to light the challenges facing California’s property tax system.
A panel of industry experts will discuss the current and future state of property tax administration at the national, state, and local levels, and will provide background on how our complex tax system works.
Board Members will hear about workforce challenges related to the “silver tsunami” of staff retirements and the high cost of low salaries in relation to the specialized skills required by appraisers and others in the industry. We will close out the hearing with a discussion about how passage of a split roll initiative could effect the administration of property taxes.
Additional
informational hearings
will be held in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco on various property tax topics.
We hope to see you there!
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I recently met with Tulare County Assessor Roland Hill and his capable staff. We had an informative discussion about the need for increased educational and training opportunities for current and future assessor staff and how the BOE can help.
Under its constitutional mandate, the BOE oversees the assessment practices of the state’s 58
county assessors.
I have enjoyed meeting with county assessors in the 1st District to learn about their needs and the ways I can better assist them as their BOE representative.
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On August 27, 2019, we held the annual Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights hearing, which gives taxpayers an opportunity to address the BOE. I was happy to learn that this year's hearing drew more participation than last year. Below is a summary of presentations:
- Property owners from Humboldt County expressed disagreement with BOE legal opinions regarding county assessors potential ability to disregard public-record property ownership in the assessment of real property on the local secured roll.
- Mark Sutter from the Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate's Office read written comments from taxpayers into the record.
- Three Calaveras County property owners asked for an explanation regarding unexplained anomalies in the assessment roll following the 2015 Butte Fire. They believe they and many of their neighbors in the Mountain Ranch area are being subjected to unjustified property tax increases. They testified that after the wildfire ravaged the area and destroyed properties, some assessed values still went up considerably.
- A representative from the California Taxpayers Association voiced support for the BOE’s website update and encouraged the agency to ensure all archived documents will be available online once the website upgrade is complete.
- A representative from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company inquired about plans to increase taxes on alcohol and asked for sufficient notice before any increases take place.
- Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate Lisa Thompson was given an opportunity to respond to taxpayer comments.
We take taxpayer rights seriously at the BOE and are committed to giving taxpayers the opportunity to be heard. Our employees are expected to honor and safeguard your rights every time they interact with you. We invite all taxpayers to attend this annual hearing in Sacramento to express their ideas, concerns, and recommendations regarding the programs and laws administered by the BOE.
You may also contact my office
directly
with any question or concern you have regarding state tax laws.
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AUDIT FINDS MISUSE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS
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California State Auditor Elaine Howle recently conducted an audit of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and a District Agriculture Association (DAA), revealing that hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars were wasted.
The CDFA oversees California’s 54 DAAs, which oversee local fairs and other special events that highlight agriculture. The
report
found that employees at one DAA engaged in illegal drinking, unauthorized travel, and had more than a quarter million dollars in unexplained credit card purchases, without any intervention by CDFA management.
“Examples of the improper acts we found include employees taking home state property and misusing state resources, drinking alcohol on state grounds, a lack of critical internal controls to prevent inappropriate and excessive travel-related purchases, unnecessary charges for interest and late fees, and a waste of state funds,” Howle wrote in her report.
The audit revealed:
- $132,584 in credit card purchases with no receipts;
- $130,396 charged to credit cards with no pre-approved purchase orders; and
- $30,048 for illegal out-of-state travel.
How can legislators get away with increasing taxes at every opportunity when state departments are misusing and wasting state funds? It’s no wonder there is such a high level of distrust between government and citizens.
Our oversized government makes it far too easy for state agencies to get away with this kind of activity and have it go unnoticed for years. I fully support the audit recommendation of disciplinary action against those who participated in these improper activities and agree those employees should reimburse the state for the money they wasted. We must put a stop to this unethical behavior and return any funds where they belong – with California’s taxpayers.
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I was pleased to present resolutions to two executive staff members in recognition of their hard work and dedication to California taxpayers.
BRENDA FLEMING - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
With over 31 years experience in state government, Brenda Fleming began her state government career at the California State Legislature where she held various management and leadership roles. Brenda joined the BOE in 2011 as Chief Information Officer. She was promoted to the position of Acting Chief Deputy until July 2017 when she became the Chief Information Officer for the newly-created Department of Tax and Fee Administration. In October 2017, she moved back to the BOE and was appointed Executive Director on January 29, 2019.
DAVE YEUNG - DEPUTY DIRECTOR
With nearly 19 years experience at the BOE, Dave Yeung has managed several units within the State-Assessed Properties Division and then served as Chief of the County-Assessed Properties Division. On May 6, 2019 he was promoted to Deputy Director of the Property Tax Department.
Please join me in congratulating Brenda and Dave on their accomplishments!
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September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. I’ve long supported and encouraged increased awareness of the disease and the importance of early detection and treatment.
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is the perfect time for men to talk with their healthcare providers about this disease so they can make informed decisions about maintaining their prostate health.
In California, roughly 16,822 men could be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year alone and, of this number, about 3,191 men are predicted to die from the disease. Although prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men, when detected early it also boasts some of the highest survival rates.
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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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Informational Hearing: September 19, 2019 in San Diego
Monthly Board Meeting: September 24, 2019 in Sacramento
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