Pay Cut Considered for Assessor Jacobs

The Board of Supervisors will decide next week whether to reduce the salary of Assessor Bradley L. Jacobs for refusing to participate in a state program that could provide millions of dollars in additional resources to his office.

Supervisors Charles V. Smith and William G. Steiner have said the threat of a salary cut might be the only way to convince Jacobs to cooperate. Jacobs could not be reached for comment.

At issue is a state program that provides counties with loans for assessment operations, including reduction in the backlog of property tax assessment appeals. The loans become grants if the county meets certain efficiency goals the assessor himself sets.

Jacobs has refused to participate in the program--in large part because he has said it would be risky to accept a loan the county is unsure it could pay back.

The county counsel’s office is researching the board’s ability to lower Jacobs’ $100,000-plus salary. The board might be restricted to change the salary only after the November election.