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Historic Resources Board hears public comment as city reconsiders Mills Act program
Summary
Public commenters at a Carmel-by-the-Sea Historic Resources Board meeting urged the board to consider how restarting the Mills Act program would affect recently reassessed property taxes; staff said specifics are under review and any board-to-individual communications are limited by the Brown Act.
Public commenters told the Carmel-by-the-Sea Historic Resources Board that the city should weigh recent property tax reassessments when it considers reinstating the Mills Act contract program.
Will Rye, speaking during public comment, said his family’s historic home recently saw a reassessment that caused “we paid 6 times more in property taxes than in previous years,” and that even if a Mills Act contract were awarded — “something like 60% property tax reduction,” in his words — the city still would receive more revenue from the property than before the reassessment. Rye said he supports the Mills Act program returning and offered to provide further input outside the meeting.
The Mills Act is being revisited by the Historic Resources Board for possible recommendations to the City Council; board staff confirmed the board has used the program actively in the past and is reviewing details before making recommendations. A staff representative cautioned that, because of legal constraints, board members cannot discuss pending agenda matters individually: “we don't speak to individuals on board, issues individually,” the staff member said, and suggested members of the public bring items to a regular meeting or request placement on a future agenda.
Rye urged the board to consider eligibility and fiscal flow into the city as the board and council weigh adjustments to the program. He described the family’s goal as stewardship of a long-held house on Twelfth and Dolores and requested guidance on how the program would operate for properties whose assessed values have recently risen.
Board staff said they are reexamining specifics and, if the board resolves outstanding questions, they expect to reopen program participation to interested property owners. No formal action on the Mills Act was taken at the meeting.
The board did not set a date for any Mills Act recommendation to the City Council during this session, and staff advised interested owners to follow future agenda notices for formal consideration.
