NR# 16-K
Date: February 29, 2000
Customer and Taxpayer Services Division

Assessment Practices Survey Released for Yolo County

The Board of Equalization (BOE) today released an assessment practices survey report on Yolo County announced Johan Klehs, Member, State Board of Equalization (BOE).

Approximately once every five years, the BOE conducts a review of each county's assessment functions. Issued as "Assessment Practices Surveys," these reports make recommendations to strengthen or improve local property tax assessment programs.

The current report provides some recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the assessor's operations. The recommendations include:

• Use a capitalization premise appropriate to the shape of the income stream when valuing restricted vineyards and orchards.
• Develop a market yield rate for agricultural property through the analysis of rural sales and make a provision for the income attributable to unrestricted, nonliving vineyard improvements based on the market yield rate.
• Revise the assessment of unsecured tenant improvements by (1) ensuring that structural improvements are properly classified and valued; and, (2) making supplemental assessments.

The BOE's County Property Tax Division conducted the review of the assessor's operation to ensure that properties are being assessed properly and efficiently. The review focused on the quality of the 1997-98 Yolo County local assessment roll, which contained 51,904 assessments with an enrolled taxable value of approximately $8,151,696,813.

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Note: A copy of the Yolo County Assessment Practices Survey can be obtained by calling 916-445-6188.