COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

County Counsel

DATE:

September 7, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 28, 2004

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Thomas F. Casey III, County Counsel

SUBJECT:

Correction of Property Tax Roll, APN 055-243-270, 180 Jefferson Drive, Menlo Park

Recommendation

Approve a change to the 1999 tax roll, and a corresponding tax refund to Jefferson Place Associates LP (“Jefferson”) to correct a double assessment on property located at 180 Jefferson Drive, Menlo Park (the “Property”).

Background

Prior to the preparation of the 1999 tax roll, APN 055-243-270 was combined with APN 055-243-250 to form a new APN, 055-243-290, for the Property. The roll value corresponding to APN 055-243-270 was included in the Property’s new APN. However, the Assessor’s automated system failed to delete APN 055-243-270 from the 1999 tax roll, resulting in a double assessment of the property included within that APN. As a result, in 1999, Jefferson paid the property taxes due on the property twice.

Discussion

Pursuant to section 4831 of the Revenue & Taxation Code, which allows for corrections to the tax roll, the Assessor proposes to delete the assessment erroneously made against the retired parcel.

Vision Alignment

The implementation of this proposal will further commitments and assist in achieving goals set forth in the County’s Shared Vision 2010 report. Specifically, this proposal implements the commitment of providing “responsive, effective, and collaborative government.”

Fiscal Impact

The fiscal impact of this action is estimated to be a $262,639.62 decrease in the 1999 roll, and a corresponding property tax refund of the same amount. The County’s General Fund share of the refund is 14% of the decrease (i.e., approximately $36,739.55).