Property Tax Department details letters to assessors, training, audits and state-assessed work

Lede: BOE property-tax officials reported on multiple technical activities: 53 letters to assessors in 2024, ongoing appraisal training and certification courses, completed assessment-practices audit reports for Mariposa and Contra Costa counties, and preparatory work for the 2025 state-assessed property appraisal season.

Nut graf: The County Assessed Properties Division documented recently issued Letters To Assessors (LTAs) and training volumes; the Assessment Practices Survey Division published final audit reports for Mariposa and Contra Costa counties with no significant assessment problems; the State Assessed Properties Division said it is collecting data for the annual capitalization-rate study and preparing cost and percent-good factors for 2025.

Body: Lauren Keetch, Chief of the County Assessed Properties Division, told the board that BOE staff issued a total of 53 LTAs for calendar year 2024 and summarized 10 LTAs issued since the last meeting, including guidance on Proposition 19 base-year value transfers, vessel valuation factors for lien date 2025, and updated assessor handbook sections on building and equipment valuation. Keetch also said the BOE scheduled 31 classes and two workshops for FY 2024–25 and had taught 19 classes so far in the fiscal year, expanding capacity with virtual instruction.

Holly Cooper, Chief of the Assessment Practices Survey Division, reviewed final Q4 2024 audit reports. Cooper said a Mariposa supplemental audit found six of eight prior recommendations implemented but two outstanding (written conflict-of-interest policies and minimum audits under section 469). For Contra Costa County, BOE’s full audit and sampling produced an average assessment ratio of 99.78% and a sum of absolute differences of 0.26%, both within tolerance; the report included recommendations on welfare-exemption application timing, reappraisals above statutory exclusions, and meeting minimum audit levels for professions, trades and businesses. Cooper concluded that neither county had “significant assessment problems” as defined in Rule 371 and that both are eligible for reimbursement of supplemental-assessment costs.

Jack McCool, Chief of the State Assessed Properties Division, said SAPD is finalizing replacement-cost and percent-good factors used in cost-approach appraisals and is compiling data for the annual capitalization-rate study, with completion targeted for early to mid-March. McCool reminded state-assessed entities that the annual state-assessed property statement is due March 1 and that staff were processing extension requests.

Ending: The board asked questions about training demand, survey rotation and county outcomes; BOE staff said they will continue outreach and follow-up surveys where recommendations remain outstanding.