Betty T. Yee Releases Assessment Practices Survey Report for Contra Costa County - california tax

Betty T. Yee, Chairwoman of the Board of Equalization (BOE), today released the Contra Costa County Assessment Practices Survey Report on the quality of the Contra Costa County 2007-08 assessment roll, consisting of 403,936 assessments representing approximately $156.75 billion in value.

The Contra Costa County Assessment Practices Survey Report states that most properties in Contra Costa County are assessed properly, and that the overall quality of the assessment roll meets state standards. The survey report notes four recommendations for improvement to the Contra Costa County Assessor's programs and includes the Contra Costa County Assessor's response, concurring with the BOE's recommendations. To view the 2009 Contra Costa County Assessment Practices Survey Report, click here.

The BOE is the agency responsible for promoting statewide uniformity and consistency in property tax assessment, reviewing each county's property assessment practices and procedures once every five years and publishing an assessment practices survey report. The assessment practices survey report provides an overview of how well the assessor's duties are performed and identifies where improvements should be made. Every assessor is required to identify and assess all properties located within the county – unless specifically exempt – and maintain a database or "roll" of the properties and their assessed values. If the assessor's roll meets state requirements, the county is allowed to recapture some administrative costs.

The assessment practices survey program is one of the State's major efforts to address both a public policy interest and a financial interest in promoting fair and equitable assessments throughout California. For more information on the BOE assessment practices survey program, visit: www.boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/apscont.htm.

Chairwoman Betty T. Yee was elected to her post in November 2006. Her district includes many of California's coastal counties, from Del Norte to Contra Costa, and includes the entire San Francisco Bay Area.

The five-member California State Board of Equalization is a publicly elected tax board. The BOE collects more than $53 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services. It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes. For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit www.taxes.ca.gov.