Orange County BOER affirms assessor recommendations, orders neighborhood value review

The Orange County Board of Equalization and Review met May 26 and voted on a series of property value appeals and listing-penalty compromises, concluding with a directive to county staff to review land values in a local neighborhood.

Chair Leon Meyers called the meeting to order at 1 p.m. The three-member board — Meyers, Saru Salvi and Richal Vanhook — established a quorum and proceeded through a docket of 14 agenda matters, including individual appeals, compromises of listing penalties and a consent agenda of corrections.

Why it matters: the board’s rulings determine final taxable values and, in some cases, reverse or reduce listing penalties that affect taxpayers’ bills. The board’s unanimous votes in several matters affirmed county appraisal recommendations; in two cases the board granted full compromise of listing penalties, and in one matter the board ordered a neighborhood-level review that could lead to broader valuation adjustments.

Key outcomes

- Appeal by Britanny McCauley (PIN 9874493750): The board accepted the county recommendation of no change and set the value at $117,400. The motion was moved by Saru Salvi and seconded by Leon Meyers; the vote was 3–0–0.

- Caroline Haynes Bryant (PIN 9789718915.072): The board accepted a county-recommended change and set the value at $255,200. Motion by Richal Vanhook; second by Saru Salvi; vote 3–0–0.

- Jimayra Garcia-Medina (PIN 9835428507): After review of a recent third-party appraisal, the board accepted the county’s recommendation and set value at $252,900. Motion by Saru Salvi; second by Richal Vanhook; vote 3–0–0.

- Two appeals by Kyle Marion (two PINs) were continued to a future hearing; the board requested evidence of unit condition as of Jan. 1, 2026.

- Valery M. Nelson (PIN 9890605507.164): The board accepted the county-recommended change and set value at $370,200 (from $383,100). Motion by Saru Salvi; second by Richal Vanhook; vote 3–0–0.

- Eldner Degraffenreidt (PIN 0804364092): The board accepted the county-recommended change and set value at $255,300. During this item the board questioned whether all PINs in neighborhood 5625 on Sibling Pine Drive should be adjusted and ordered the county to review the neighborhood for possible corrections.

- Brandon Konkel (two PINs): For PIN 9787747888 the board accepted a recommended change (value set at $700,100). For PIN 9787749856 the board accepted the county’s recommendation of no change (value set at $320,000). Both motions carried 3–0–0.

- Lingbo Li (PIN 9799028061.036): The board accepted the county recommendation of no change (value left at $52,000). Motion carried 3–0–0.

- Syre Inc. (listing penalty, PIN 3222374): The board granted a full compromise of the listing penalty. The company said untimely application resulted from a change in ownership and difficulty obtaining records; motion carried 3–0–0.

- Emma Dunbar (PIN 9779425824): The board accepted no change (value $612,500). Motion carried 3–0–0.

- Timothy P. Toben (listing penalties): The board granted a full compromise, reducing a $3,338.27 penalty to $0. Motion carried 3–0–0.

- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda without edits; items included multiple parcel corrections tied to flooding, corrected sketches, depreciation adjustments and other technical corrections.

Follow-up and next steps

County staff and the BOER agreed on two specific follow-ups: (1) Staff Attorney Martha Bordogna will revise the draft scheduling email for BOER review by June 4, 2026; and (2) the county was ordered to review land values in neighborhood 5625 (Sibling Pine Drive) for possible corrections prior to the conclusion of the 2026 BOER schedule.

The board adjourned at 3:52 p.m. The minutes were prepared by Meeting Secretary Rob Teachout and approved by Chair Leon Meyers.