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County assessors tell BOE inconsistent practices, paperwork and staffing drive welfare exemption backlogs
Summary
County assessors and exemption supervisors told the Board of Equalization that incomplete filings, differing local procedures and limited assessor staffing are the main causes of multi‑year welfare exemption backlogs, and they supported BOE guidance and shared electronic filing tools to improve consistency.
Kristin DePaul, Modoc County assessor and president of the California Assessors Association, described the welfare exemption as "one of the most technically complex responsibilities in property tax administration" and urged a systems approach to implementation.
Assessors said common causes of delay include incomplete or inaccurate filings, unresolved ownership or financing issues, and construction not reaching the statutory stage for approval. "When we look closely at where delays occur, we consider the entire system President DePaul described," Santa Clara County's exemption supervisor Jared Gregory said, adding that counties receive thousands of annual filings and have competing priorities. County staff supported BOE guidance and improved checklists to reduce back‑and‑forth and proposed statewide electronic filing to provide consistent notices to tax collectors and applicants.
Assessors emphasized that some elements are statutorily required and cannot be waived, but they supported working with the BOE on clearer forms, training, and targeted outreach. Kristin DePaul said the CAA will add the topic to its standards committee and that counties stand ready to collaborate on performance standards and implementation tools.
