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Council orders $1,766 discretionary abatement after recorder confirms deed fraud
Summary
County staff recommended and the council approved a discretionary abatement and refund of $1,766.17 after a fraudulent quitclaim deed was filed in January 2025 that temporarily removed a property tax exemption; the assessor reinstated the rightful owner's exemption for 2026 and recommended refunding the 2025 amount.
Assessor staff told the council a quitclaim deed for Parcel SS‑67‑13 recorded on January 23, 2025, had been identified as fraudulent by the county recorder's office. The fraud had caused an automatic appraisal‑system change that generated a tax‑exemption application sent to the fraudulent 'owners,' and the assessor removed the exemption for 2025 when no valid owner response was received. The rightful owner, Jenny Mazzaro, filed suit in Third District Court. Assessor staff recommended reinstating the exemption for 2026 and granting a discretionary abatement and refund of $1,766.17 for the affected year. Council moved and approved the discretionary abatement and refund unanimously.
