Assessor Taxes Patience of Angry Homeowner
Because the general real estate market in Southern California has been soft for the last two years, my (condominium’s) property value has actually declined by approximately 10%. However, according to the county assessor’s office, the computer automatically calculates a 2% increase over the previous year’s value.
This does not accurately reflect what the market conditions are during a given year, and an inordinate number of people will automatically pay their tax bill, assuming faith in the system. Additionally, the county will be utilizing these overpayments until some future date when taxpayers protest their case and win.
In all fairness, you have the option to protest the valuation claimed by the assessor. (On the valuation card) a local number and the following directives are given by Bradley Jacobs, county assessor: “My staff will be happy to answer your questions and to discuss your property’s value. If you still disagree with the valuation, we will give you a protest form which, by law, you must file with an Assessment Appeals Board between July 2 and Sept. 15. We accept those forms and forward them to the clerk of the board for filing. An early notification of a problem can help speed a solution.”
Being the law-abiding citizen I am, I tried to follow the procedures. After numerous attempts to get through to the aforementioned number, I was informed that they have been inundated with similar calls and that I would not be able to talk to anyone regarding my situation and further advised to call yet another number to request the protest form. That I did and responded by Sept. 1, 1992.
Again, I wanted to believe the statement about a speedy solution; however, when I had not heard anything after a month, I decided to call the assessor’s office. The information I obtained left me aghast and frustrated--it would take between nine and 18 months before I could expect to see a response regarding the hearing.
The voice at the other end of the telephone offered that there were people who submitted their protests in August, 1991, who had not been contacted yet. I wondered if this was supposed to be some kind of consolation. Obviously, the infamous state budget cuts were mostly to blame. I felt so helpless and could only think this kind of bureaucracy existed in Third World countries, not in the United States.
Once I was able to get beyond my anger, it suddenly occurred to me that I will be faced with the same scenario in 1993 since realistically I project that a response to 1992’s problem will not arrive until the end of next year. At this rate the system will never correct itself. Also equally important, I reiterate that the county is floating my money, the difference between what they have billed me and the corrected valuation. This equates to taxes on $21,000 I will not be able to recoup for one to 1 1/2 years.
This is a sham and must be stopped! There is already an exodus of disenchanted Californians and this is just one more reason why life in Orange County is deteriorating.
RUTH LUNA
Huntington Beach
