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Residents press board over steep assessed‑value increases; assessor reports 71 decline‑in‑value filings, 35 approved
Summary
Plumas County residents pressed supervisors on Jan. 21 over steep assessed‑value increases after the assessor’s annual Prop. 8 reviews; Assessor Cindy Brogut said the office received 71 decline‑in‑value filings and has approved 35 so far.
A wave of public comment at the Jan. 21 Plumas County Board of Supervisors meeting focused on recent assessed‑value changes and resulting tax‑bill increases following the assessor’s annual Proposition 8 review.
Plumas County Assessor Cindy Brogut said the assessor’s office received 71 decline‑in‑value requests and has approved 35; she reported 43 appeals filed with 14 already processed and withdrawal notices being mailed to owners who accepted corrected rolls. "We have received 71 decline in values. We have so far approved 35," Brogut told the board.
Members of the public described large tax increases and questioned the assessor’s methodology, asking why a subset of properties showed steep increases and others did not. Several residents said they had unexpected supplemental assessments and called for greater transparency, additional mailed notices and extended appeal windows. One caller, Ted Stout of Indian Valley, asked the board to extend the decline‑in‑value filing period beyond the January deadline; a caller on Zoom repeated that request.
Board members asked for clarity on process and timeline. Brogut said the office mailed postcards and that the address used is the address on file for the parcel; she encouraged owners to update mailing addresses. She also said properties in Proposition 8 are reviewed annually and that some properties’ market values rose above their Proposition 8 figures and were adjusted accordingly.
Why it matters: Sudden assessed‑value increases can result in large tax‑bill changes for homeowners — particularly those on fixed incomes — and the board heard sustained public concern. The assessor’s office says it is processing appeals promptly; residents and supervisors urged clearer communication and faster handling of declines and appeals.
What’s next: The assessor’s office will continue to process appeals and mail withdrawal or correction notices; members of the public urged staff and supervisors to consider extending the decline‑in‑value filing period and to increase outreach about where to find notices and how to appeal.
