Calamity reassessment appeal continued; board grants one remote appearance and requests documentation

Richard Corbett, the trustee for the R & J Corbett Family Trust, appeared at the Dec. 8 meeting to request a continuance and to ask that future attendance be allowed remotely because he now lives outside Ventura County and the property was affected by a fire.

Assessors described the case as a calamity reassessment: they had removed improvement value to zero but retained a land valuation. The assessor said the appeal before the board is limited to the amount removed for fire damage on the specific assessment date and that challenges to annual market-value assessments (Prop. 8 reductions) are a separate process and generally must be filed within statutory windows.

"The application before us today is for the calamity reassessment," staff said, adding that if the appellant believes the market-value assessment should also be challenged, he may need to file a separate market-value appeal or provide proof that any subsequent filing was timely. The board continued the matter to Feb. 9, 2026, required that any additional information requested by the assessor be submitted at least 30 days before that hearing, and granted one additional remote appearance for the appellant, with the board cautioning that remote participants may be at a disadvantage if the hearing proceeds to contested testimony.

Clerk staff advised Corbett to file a formal change‑of‑address with the assessor’s office so notices go to his preferred mailing address.