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Clerks and advocates push for plain‑language appeals form, more taxpayer tools
Summary
County clerks, assessors and advocates told the Board that many appeals are incomplete because the statewide application is technical and confusing. Speakers urged a single, plain‑language form, decision trees, translations, and limited attestations to deter frivolous filings while protecting access to appeals.
Speakers at the Board of Equalization workgroup said the existing assessment-appeal application is a frequent cause of incomplete and incorrect filings and that simplifying the form and creating plain-language tools would reduce county costs and delay.
Thomas Parker and Anne Moore urged the board to improve the single application rather than create a second, simplified form that could add confusion. Moore said many errors stem from two parts of the form: "Most of the errors come from section 5 of the application and section 6," where filers must choose the type of appeal and explain the reasons for filing. She added that simplified language would also improve automated and human translations for non-English speakers.
Clerks of the board recommended that BOE staff convene focused work groups to revise the application and produce accessible 'self-help' materials and decision trees to help unrepresented taxpayers file correctly. Melissa Katz (Butte County assistant clerk) described severe staffing constraints—"we have 1 and a half people"—and said smaller counties need state support to provide additional public resources.
Panelists also discussed targeted procedural reforms to deter frivolous filings: systems that require an agent or filer to attest there is a reasonable basis for the filing; better pre-hearing screening; and guidance on what documentation is useful to submit with an application. Several speakers warned against requiring large, multi-page appraisals to be filed with every claim because of storage, access and resource constraints in county clerk offices.
Next steps: staff will include application redesign and plain-language guidance among the actionable recommendations in the fall report to the board.
