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Kern County Board delays assessment‑appeals filing‑fee ordinance after public input
Summary
The board continued consideration of a proposed ordinance (item 24) that would add a filing fee and fee‑waiver process for property tax assessment appeals to allow more discussion with stakeholders; the continuation passed 4‑1 with Supervisor Peters opposed.
The Kern County Board of Supervisors continued consideration of a proposed ordinance that would amend Title 2, Chapter 2.44 of the Kern County Ordinance Code to add Section 2.44.0.05 establishing a filing fee to recover costs of processing assessment‑appeal applications and a fee‑waiver for eligible applicants. The item (No. 24) was continued to the board meeting on Aug. 19 after public comment and board discussion; the motion to continue passed 4‑1, with Supervisor Peters voting no.
Assistant County Administrative Officer Stacy Kuwahara told the board the ordinance came to the board for a second reading after unanimous approval at the board’s July 15 meeting. Staff recommended enacting the ordinance but opened the item for public comment after receiving correspondence, including a letter from the Kern County Taxpayers Association.
Michael Turnipseed of the Kern County Taxpayers Association told the board taxpayers should not be burdened in pursuing appeals but asked for a fuller review of how appeals affect clerk workloads, recommended reimbursement of the filing fee when a taxpayer’s assessed value is reduced, and urged study of single‑application methods for economic units. Turnipseed also asked that the board delay action for further discussion.
Staff presented five‑year data showing appeal filings by property type: about 35% mines and energy (including wind), 18% oil and gas, 23% commercial, 8% business, 6% agriculture and a little over 8% residential. Staff and the clerk’s office said the clerk’s work to prepare forms and file state Board of Equalization forms is parcel‑specific even when appeals are heard as a single economic unit; the clerk’s office noted it currently operates with one staff member while some large counties have larger clerking staffs.
Kern County staff said they considered, and rejected as impractical for clerk operations, proposals to reimburse filing fees when values decline because that would require the clerk to manage fiscal transactions without dedicated fiscal staff. Staff also said a fee‑waiver process would be available for eligible applicants and that 41 of 43 California counties that charge a filing fee do so on a per‑parcel basis.
Supervisor Couch moved to continue the matter to Aug. 19 to allow further meetings with stakeholders; Supervisor Parlier seconded. The motion carried 4‑1 with Supervisor Peters opposed. The board said the Aug. 19 session will hold the item during the PM session so participants and staff can continue discussions prior to final action.
