County tax‑law briefing flags 2% budget cap, changing homestead rules and reporting burdens

A county presenter identified in the record as Travis briefed supervisors on a package of state tax changes the governor recently signed and described several provisions that will affect county budgets and property‑tax administration.

Travis said the bill effectively caps county budget growth at 2% of the previous year's budget plus new construction and that elements such as wind and solar valuation and urban revitalization may not count toward the new‑construction portion that allows budgets to exceed the cap. "They capped us at 2%, and we don't even have the opportunity at the new construction growth," Travis said, adding that some urban‑revitalization incentives will no longer raise budget caps.

He described a carryover restriction limiting unassigned reserves to about 35% and warned the change will require counties to move savings into categories that meet the new rules. Travis also explained that homestead/disabled‑veteran relief will shift from a credit to an exemption with a multi‑year, phased state backfill (two‑thirds, then one‑third, then no backfill), and that the state is restoring a multi‑residential classification for apartment properties.

On assessment procedure, Travis said the bill moves the burden of proof to the assessor when a property's assessed value rises more than 10% over a two‑year span and requires counties to send additional calculation details to property owners if values increase significantly, which could raise mailing and administrative costs.

Travis and supervisors agreed that county staff are awaiting formal guidance and that some requirements will need new cross‑department reporting between the treasurer, auditor and assessor. Several supervisors said they are concerned about the budgetary implications and the timing of state guidance.