Appeals board to review jurisdiction on calamity land allocation after property owner says local land values fell 30–40%

At a hearing before the Ventura County Assessment Appeals Board, property owner David Otis said land values in his neighborhood declined substantially after recent fires and asked the board to consider reallocating assessed value between land and improvements.

"APN values are roughly 30 to 40% devalued due to what's happened in the area of Camarillo," Otis said, describing attempts by nearby owners to sell lots at prices below the assessed value. He said many neighbors had chosen not to rebuild and that the market decline may be long‑lasting.

Assessor staff and board members cautioned that there are two distinct legal pathways: calamity reassessments (tied to damage to improvements) and Prop 8 market value reductions, which apply under different statutory rules and timing. The assessor noted that jurisdictional and statute‑of‑limitations questions may limit the board’s ability to adjust base‑year allocations and advised further review before proceeding.

Board members suggested addressing the jurisdictional question at the next hearing (scheduled for Jan. 26) to determine whether the board may consider reallocation of land value as part of the current calamity appeal. If the board finds jurisdiction, the applicant would be expected to bring appraisal or other supporting evidence on the land value reallocation at a later hearing; assessor staff noted the applicant may need to file a separate appeal to address market value beyond the calamity event.

Next steps: The board continued the matter to allow assessor staff time to review applicable statutes and to place jurisdiction on the Jan. 26 agenda. If jurisdiction is found, the applicant will be instructed what evidence to bring for valuation and reallocation arguments.