LA County enhances property appeal processes to reduce backlog and improve efficiency

The April 30, 2025, Board of Equalization (BOE) meeting focused on significant improvements in the processing of property tax appeals in Los Angeles County. The session highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiencies and reduce backlog appeals, which have been a persistent challenge for the department.

The meeting began with a discussion on the inefficiencies caused by manual data entry, which has historically delayed the scheduling of hearings. Prior to 2022, new applications were typically scheduled within ten months, while correspondence was processed within two days. However, delays in processing postponements and withdrawal requests complicated the scheduling of hearings, contributing to a high continuance rate of 65 percent before 2022.

In response to these challenges, the county initiated a multi-phase business process improvement project in 2022, hiring a consultant to identify areas for enhancement. Key initiatives included the implementation of an enhanced training curriculum for staff and board members, aimed at improving skills and operational knowledge. The training now includes quarterly sessions on case law and appraisal topics, led by experts in the field.

Additionally, the BOE adopted new scheduling strategies based on data analytics, allowing for adjustments every six months according to application statistics. Collaboration with the assessor's office has also been established to analyze open applications and identify factors affecting the continuance rate.

The meeting reported notable successes from these initiatives. The percentage of applications filed online surged to nearly 50%, a 15% increase since 2021. The average scheduling time for new applications has decreased to five months, marking a 50% reduction from previous years. As of April 25, 2025, approximately 80% of the backlog appeals from 2021 have been resolved, with over 27,000 total open applications remaining.

The current composition of open applications shows that 57% are from the current year, while 19% are from the previous year. The majority of appeals continue to be filed for commercial and industrial properties, followed closely by single-family residences. The continuance rate has also improved, dropping to 47% last year, although it currently stands at 58% due to the complexity of remaining cases.

The meeting concluded with a directive from the LA County Board of Supervisors to further analyze and streamline the appeals and refund processes, indicating a continued commitment to improving the efficiency of property tax administration in the county.