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Committee backs ordinance to streamline large transfer‑tax refunds
Summary
A Peskin‑sponsored ordinance would allow the city attorney (with assessor‑recorder consent) to settle transfer‑tax refund claims over $25,000 without Board approval; committee approved a technical amendment and forwarded the ordinance.
Supervisor Aaron Peskin's office introduced an ordinance to remove the Board of Supervisors' required approval for transfer‑tax refunds in excess of $25,000, allowing the city attorney, with the consent of the assessor‑recorder, to settle those claims administratively.
Lehi Hepner, speaking for Supervisor Peskin, said transfer taxes apply on legal changes in ownership and are based on self‑reported values; the city collected approximately $368 million in transfer taxes last year and the assessor‑recorder's audit program has recovered about $45 million since 2015 (about $4.5 million in the current fiscal year). The audit program also has refunded roughly $3 million of collected amounts. Hepner asked the committee to adopt a technical amendment to add statutory‑interest language (section 1,113.2) and to forward the ordinance to the Board.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about oversight and transparency; staff noted that board oversight remains in the context of litigation and that adjudicated claims are processed by the assessment appeals board. The committee approved the proposed technical amendment by roll call and then voted to forward the ordinance with a positive recommendation (committee votes recorded 3 ayes). The change would shorten administrative processing for large refunds but does not remove public‑record oversight of settlements handled through litigation.
