Assessments

Your Aug. 29 editorial, “Smiles at the Assessor’s Office,” was appreciated. However, as an elected official, Assessor Kenneth Hahn and his staff encourage and expect that all taxpayers will apply for, and receive, lower assessments when warranted.

We reported that real estate values are on a rebound, and that has us smiling. It’s not because of the revenue implications to the county and other jurisdictions, but because we are also homeowners, taxpayers and citizens of this great county. We take no pleasure per se that property tax revenues are increasing. A real estate rebound is a broad indication of the health of our overall Southern California economy.

MAX E. GOODRICH

Assistant Assessor

Los Angeles County