Board approves concept of assessor/AAB work group and a poverty–property-tax informational hearing; staff to report back in February

The Board of Equalization on Jan. 23 approved, in concept, a board work group to study county assessor and assessment-appeals issues and agreed to hold an informational hearing about how California’s property-tax system contributes to disproportionate economic impacts on low-income residents. The board directed staff to finish a survey of county offices and to return with planning details at the regular Feb. 19 meeting.

What the board authorized and why - Work group concept: Member Vasquez proposed revisiting a 2024 proposal to form a work group to study county assessor and assessment appeals board (AAB) administrative issues. The board agreed that a group could gather stakeholder testimony, find facts about common administrative burdens, and prepare recommendations. The proposal calls for a brief February pre-planning item and a full-day work group meeting tentatively on April 30, 2025, if the board votes to proceed after reviewing survey results. - Informational hearing on property-tax…