COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

County Counsel

DATE:

January 24, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

February 26, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Thomas F. Casey III, County Counsel

SUBJECT:

Correction of Property Tax Roll: APNs 98-095-040-300-1; 1999-095-040-390-1; and 2000-095-040-390-1

Recommendation

Approve changes to the 1998, 1999 and 2000 tax rolls to reflect a deletion of supplemental assessments leveled against the above parcels, which are owned by Oracle Real Estate Corporation.

Background

Prior to 1998, a change in ownership (which is a reappraisable event) occurred with respect to the above-listed parcels, but the Assessor's Office did not learn of this event until after the property tax rolls for 1998, 1999, and 2000 had closed. After learning of the change in ownership, the Assessor's Office intended to send out escape assessments with respect to these parcels. However, due to a computer error, the Assessor's Office issued supplemental assessments for a total of $766,353.18 in property taxes for the three years in question. An escape assessment is an assessment made for an event, such as a change in ownership, that occurs in a prior year but that is not discovered by the Assessor until a subsequent year; while a supplemental assessment is an assessment relating to a reappraisable event occurring during the current tax year.

Discussion

Pursuant to section 4831 of the Revenue & Taxation Code, which allows for corrections to the tax roll, the Assessor's Office proposes to delete the erroneously issued supplemental assessments and replace them with escape assessments in the same amounts.

Fiscal Impact

Because the Assessor will issue escape assessments in the same amounts as the deleted supplemental assessments, the instant proposal should have no fiscal impact.

By_______________________________________

THOMAS F. CASEY III, COUNTY COUNSEL

TFC:JDN

cc:

John L. Maltbie, County Manager

Warren Slocum, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder

Tom Huening, Controller