Decline in value

The Assessor has completed the current 2009-10 assessment roll (values as of lien date January 1, 2009). In preparing the 2009-10 assessment roll, the Assessor proactively reviewed over 90,000 properties purchased since January 1, 2002 to determine if they qualified for a Decline In value assessment. Of the over 90,000 properties reviewed, over 63,000 received reductions in their taxable value.

We will notify or have already notified, in writing, those property owners whose property qualified for a review of their assessed/taxable value as of January 1, 2009. Regardless of whether the value was lowered or not, if you believe your property was over assessed, you have the right to file a formal Application for Changed Assessment between July 2 and November 30, 2009.

If you do not receive a notice by July 30, 2009, your property's value was not automatically reviewed. If you believe your property's value, as of January 1, 2009, was lower that the assessed/taxable value (shown on your 2008-09 property tax bill), please submit an informal Request for Decline in Value Review by the filing deadline of December 31, 2009. You may also contact our office at (805) 654-2181 to find out the assessed/taxable value of your property for 2009-10. To protect your rights, we also recommend you file a formal Application for Changed Assessment between July 2 and November 30, 2009 with the Clerk of the Assessment Appeal's Board.

We are now in the process of preparing the 2010-11 assessment roll (value as of lien date January 1, 2010).  The Assessor makes every attempt to consider declines in value without the need for individual owners making an informal request for decline in value or filing a formal application for changed assessment and has already begun identifying where there is potential need for reduction in assessments as of January 1, 2010. Along with those properties identified as needing a first time review, your property will be automatically reviewed if you received a value reduction for 2009-10 or timely submitted a Request for Decline in Value review for 2009-10.

The Request for Decline in Value Review form for 2010-11 will not be available until January 1, 2010, but we urge you to wait for notification from our office in July 2010 before filing.

Assessor forms are available by either downloading them from our website or by contacting our office.

If we are unable to review the 2009 value of your property, or if you disagree with the Assessor’s value determination, you have the right to file an Application for Changed Assessment with the Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board between July 2 and November 30, 2009.

• This type of property tax relief generally applies to more recently purchased or constructed property.
• The Assessor will be valuing the property as of the most recent January 1st. Proposition 8 does not allow for relief pertaining to other dates nor to supplemental assessments.
• The total assessed value will be reviewed. There is no legal provision to review separate land and/or improvement assessments; only the total assessed value.
• Our certified Appraisers will analyze sales and other information for Comparable properties that would indicate market value.
• Comparable sales utilized to appraise your property must be recorded no more than 90 days after January 1.
• Property tax payments are due as indicated on your property tax bill. If a reduction in assessed value is warranted, a notice of correction and revised tax bill or refund will be processed by the County Tax Collector and County Auditor.

"If the market value of your property as of January 1, 2009, was below the total assessed value as shown on your 2008-09 value notice and/or annual property tax bill, your property may qualify for a temporary assessed value reduction."

Proposition 8 was passed in 1979 and allows the Assessor to temporarily lower the assessed value of property. Under Proposition 8, the Assessor may review the market value as of January 1, and enroll for the following tax year the lesser of the:

Factored-Base-Year Value Proposition 13
or
Market Value Proposition 8

Reductions in assessed value under Proposition 8 are temporary and are reviewed annually until the Factored-Base-Year value is again lower than market value and then the factored-base-year value is reinstated.

Unless there is a change in ownership or new construction, the assessed value can never increase above the base-year value, plus the appropriate annual cost of living increase not to exceed 2 percent per year, allowed by Proposition 13.

Proposition 13, passed in 1978, established the base-year value concept for property tax assessments. Under Proposition 13, assessments for the year 1975-76 serve as the original base year values. Thereafter, a new base-year value is established whenever a property is purchased, newly constructed or changes ownership. The base-year value is increased a maximum of 2 percent per year.

You have the right to file an appeal with the Assessment Appeals Board. The filing period is from July 2 through November 30, inclusive. Assessment appeal applications are available from that office.

It is important to note that if you have not received a response from our office by the assessment appeals deadline date or do not agree with the response you must file a timely "Application for Changed Assessment" in order to protect your appeal rights.

The Assessment Appeals Board is an independent body appointed by the Board of Supervisors to serve as the local Board of Equalization. The Assessment Appeals Board will determine the value of the property after hearing evidence from the applicant and a representative of the Assessor's Office.

An Application for Decline in Value Reassessment Review submitted to the Assessor's Office is not the same as an "Application for Changed Assessment" that is filed with the Assessment Appeals Board.

IMPORTANT See filing dates below before completing application for changed assessment

Regular Assessment Appeal: Filing dates are July 2 through November 30 of the current year.

Supplemental Assessment Appeal: Filing dates are within 60 days after the mailing date printed on the Notice of Supplemental Assessment or the postmark date on the envelope in which the notice was mailed, whichever is later.

Escape Assessments: Filing dates are within 60 days after the mailing date printed on the Notice of Enrollment of Escape Assessment or postmark date on the envelope in which the notice was mailed, whichever is later.

Other assessments made outside of the regular assessment period: Appeal filing dates are within 60 days after the mailing date printed on the assessment notice or postmark date on the envelope in which the notice was mailed, whichever is later.