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Homeowner says Thomas fire cut land values 30–40%; board to consider jurisdiction
Summary
David Otis told the Ventura County Assessment Appeals Board that land values in his Camarillo neighborhood fell sharply after the Thomas fire and asked to amend his appeal to dispute the land/improvement allocation. The board agreed to address the jurisdictional question at the next hearing and continued the matter to allow assessor review.
David Otis, an appellant in a calamity reassessment case, told the Assessment Appeals Board that land values in his Camarillo neighborhood have declined substantially since the Thomas fire and asked the board to consider an amendment to his appeal.
Otis said comparables and listings show a sustained market decline and told the board that "APN values are roughly 30 to 40% devalued due to what's happened in the area" (recorded testimony). Assessor staff cautioned that calamity reassessment and market-value reductions are governed differently and that the board must treat the legal questions separately; staff noted potential statute-of-limitations constraints for base-year allocation adjustments and recommended further review.
Board members and assessor staff discussed whether Otis may properly add Box G2 (a challenge to allocation between land and improvements) and whether the board has jurisdiction to rule on that issue as part of the calamity reassessment appeal. The board agreed to continue the matter to Jan. 26 to hold a jurisdictional discussion and asked Otis to coordinate with the assessor on the statutory questions prior to the hearing.
Assessor staff advised Otis that if the board finds it has jurisdiction he should be prepared to present appraisal support or other evidence for the reallocation, and that if the property owner wishes to challenge market value more broadly, a separate regular appeal window may be appropriate (assessor cited the July 2–Sept. 15, 2026 window for general market-value appeals).
Next steps: The board will revisit jurisdiction at the next hearing and, if it determines jurisdiction exists, will allow the applicant to proceed with an amended application and evidence on allocation and value.
