Computer Blamed in Backlog of Tax Bills

A computer designed to streamline tax assessments in the Los Angeles County assessor’s office has been blamed for millions of dollars in billing backlogs on the county property tax rolls, according to a grand jury report.

The panel, in an audit conducted by Deloitte, Haskins & Sells, said the $20-million Optimum System has “encountered a number of difficulties” and the result has been a sharp drop-off in property tax revenue for the county.

The grand jury said that because of problems with the computer only $13.4 million of supplemental tax bills were issued in the first eight months of the 1987-88 fiscal year. By comparison, $25.7 million in supplemental bills had been issued during the same period the year before. The disparity represents a potential loss of $687,000 in interest income, the grand jury said.

Assessor John Lynch had inherited the computer system when he took office in 1986 and county officials had hoped to have it ready for the 1987-88 tax year. The grand jury said continuing problems have plagued the system.

However, Robert Knowles, Lynch’s press aide, said the computer system is being corrected.