Board of Equalization adopts audits, escaped-assessments and backs two veterans tax bills

The California Board of Equalization on March 26 adopted a package of state-assessed property audits and unitary land "escaped" assessments and voted to support two Senate bills that would expand property tax relief for disabled veterans.

The board approved audit adjustments for Extenet Systems California LLC and Vero Fiber Networks LLC after staff said both companies had been given draft reports and an opportunity to provide additional documentation. Jack McCool, chief of the State Assessed Properties Division, told the board the division "performs routine audits of state assesses under the authority of California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 828 and Government Code Section 15618" and that assessees are given time to respond before values are finalized.

The board also adopted unitary land escaped assessments for large utilities after staff reported parcels had been reported late. Richard Moon, chief counsel, explained a disclosure question raised by a member: because the items are nonadjudicatory the usual contribution-disclosure restrictions do not apply.

Members then returned to several board-member items, including approval of the board’s February 19 minutes and a one-date change to the 2025 meeting calendar. The board voted to adopt a report summarizing an earlier informational hearing on wildfire disaster relief and recovery; members discussed whether informational hearings should routinely produce a report and asked staff to agendize governance guidance on…