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Assessor warns cuts to staffing could jeopardize millions in property tax revenue; committee opts to delay hires
Summary
Assessor's office told the Budget and Finance Committee that proposed cuts to temporary and limited-duration positions could reduce revenue collection and impede defense of an estimated backlog of 6,000 assessment appeals. The committee agreed to delay hires until Oct. 1 and place some positions in a committee reserve pending productivity measures.
The San Francisco Assessor'Recorder'Treasurer's presentation to the Budget and Finance Committee highlighted a sharp disagreement with the budget analyst over staff cuts the office said would carry significant revenue risk.
The assessor, identified in committee discussion as Assessor King, said the office could not agree with the analyst on several reductions. He described a workload driven by a large backlog of assessment appeals and said the department had 6,000 appeals pending and "we estimate it's a couple of $100,000,000 of revenue at stake" if appeals are not properly defended. He urged caution on cuts to temporary clerical and auditor positions that the office says enable appraisers to work efficiently.
The budget analyst (Harvey M. Rose and staff) recommended pruning some requested positions but recommended converting several temporary positions to permanent status and adding others on a limited-tenure basis. Analyst staff also advised that the assessor submit productivity measures by Oct. 1, 2011, before the hire of 10 new limited-tenure positions not approved as interim exceptions.
Committee members expressed concern about both protecting revenue and the cost of additional staff. Chair Carmen Chu and several supervisors supported delaying the start dates for interim positions from July 1 to Oct. 1 and placing a budget-committee reserve on some positions until the assessor provides more detailed productivity and revenue documentation. The committee agreed without objection to delay hiring for the interim positions to Oct. 1 and to hold certain positions in reserve pending further information.
The committee did not adopt all of the assessor's requested positions; staff will return with the requested productivity measures and any revised staffing proposals for committee review.
