GAINES GAZETTE
July 2020
It’s been an interesting year so far at the BOE! In between virtual Board meetings—which have taken place since March—I’ve had many phone calls with county assessors and constituents in the First District to check on folks and keep up with the many changes needed to effectively administer property taxes during the quarantine.
 
Summer is in full swing and I hope everyone is keeping safe and can find creative ways to celebrate the 4th of July. I’ll continue to keep you updated on important developments and the latest news from the BOE. It is an honor to serve you.
Chief Deputy Transition
It was with mixed feelings that I wished my former Chief Deputy, Dave Titus, a happy retirement. Dave retired on June 12 after nearly 30 years of exceptional service to the State of California, the last four working with me at the state Senate and the BOE. 
 
While at the BOE, Dave provided outstanding leadership and was a steadfast and reliable asset to the Board, staff, local government officials, and California residents. The Board honored him with a resolution at the May 27 meeting and I wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement! 
 
I’m excited to introduce Matt Cox , who joined my team as Chief Deputy on June 15. In addition to holding positions within the Schwarzenegger administration, he served in my Senate office for eight years as a policy consultant. Matt is a respected advisor and trusted friend, and I look forward to working with him again.
Board Sets Utility Property Values
The BOE oversees the assessment practices for the 58 county assessors, who are charged with valuing over 13 million assessments each year. Last year, the net statewide assessed value was $6.4 trillion, resulting in $70.8 billion of property tax levies. Those property tax levies contributed $38.1 billion to schools and $32.7 billion to local government.

In the next fiscal year, local governments will receive roughly $1.82 billion in tax revenue due to the BOE’s assessment of privately-owned public utilities and railroads. During the May 27 meeting, the Board adopted staff recommendations, which set the value for these properties at $120.5 billion for Fiscal Year 2020-21. 
 
Total values are $8.83 billion more than the $111.7 billion adopted by the Board last year and will generate approximately $133 million more in taxes for local governments than in the current fiscal year. Values were set for 346 companies with property in California. 
 
More information can be found in the BOE’s press release and on the State-Assessed Properties Program webpage .
Split Roll Initiative Qualifies for November Ballot
According to the Secretary of State's website, the split roll property tax initiative has qualified for the November ballot. If passed, the measure will require annual market-value reassessment of commercial and industrial properties, and is estimated to increase annual property taxes by $7.5 to $12 billion a year.
 
The newly qualified initiative ( 1870 ) was introduced to replace an earlier version that qualified for the 2018 ballot but was pulled back due to acknowledged flaws in the language. The newest version needed at least 997,139 valid signatures to qualify for the November 2020 ballot.
 
A legislative hearing, which is required after any initiative qualifies for the ballot, was held on June 4. While both sides presented their position in the hours-long hearing, I believe more discussion on the topic should be made available to the public and have organized an informational hearing for later this month that will bring together proponents, opponents, and other interested parties so Board Members and the public can better understand the implications and implementation challenges presented by the initiative. 
 
My hearing is scheduled for July 23, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. via teleconference. When available, more information can be found on my website . You may also sign up to receive meeting agendas electronically when they are released to the public. I encourage you to listen in if you can.
Meeting with Amador County Assessor
Matt and I enjoyed a recent visit and chat with Amador County Assessor Jim Rooney. He brought us up to date on the measures his office is taking during the COVID-19 pandemic. I think Jim and his staff are doing a great job for property owners and all his constituents in the Gold Country!
At Your Service
White sign with words Customer Service in red sitting next to a bell with a finger pushing down on the ringer. Picture of Board Member Ted Gaines sitting in a black desk chair wearing a light blue shirt and striped tie.
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.
Mark Your Calendar!
Monthly Board Meeting : July 22, 2020 via teleconference

Informational Hearing on Split Roll : July 23, 2020 via teleconference

Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Hearing : August 18, 2020 via teleconference