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Homeowner urges board to consider Mills Act impacts after reassessment; board says program under review
Summary
A homeowner told the Historic Resources Board that a reassessment increased property taxes sixfold and urged the board to consider Mills Act eligibility and city revenue implications; the board said the Mills Act program is being reexamined and legal constraints prevent board members from meeting privately with individual owners.
Will Rye, speaking during public comment on behalf of a homeowner family, urged the Carmel-by-the-Sea Historic Resources Board to consider how property tax reassessments affect eligibility and city revenue as the board revisits the Mills Act program.
"Even if we were able to get a Mills Act contract that's the most generous, you know, sort of, tax rebate, something like 60% property tax reduction, the city still stands to receive more in property tax income from our property taxes than it did prior to the reassessment last year," Rye said. He told the board his family’s property taxes rose about six times this year after a reassessment and asked the board to factor reassessments and eligibility into recommendations to the City Council.
Chair Kromen said the Mills Act has been used aggressively in the past and that the board is reexamining specifics before making recommendations to the council. Kromen also advised commenters that, because of legal constraints under the Brown Act, board members cannot speak about agenda items individually with members of the public and suggested commenters either address the full board at a public meeting or request an item be placed on a future agenda.
No changes to the Mills Act program were adopted at the meeting; the board said it will consider adjustments and may reopen the program to new contracts once questions are resolved.
