NR# 21-K
Date: May 29, 2001
Customer and Taxpayer Services Division

Assessment Practices Survey Report Released for Alameda County

Johan Klehs, Member, State Board of Equalization (BOE) announced today the release of an assessment practices survey report on Alameda County.

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 23 recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the assessor's operations. They include:·

• Ensure that appraisers meet their mandatory training requirements.
• Assess all taxable possessory interests unless they qualify for the low value exemption.
• Complete all mandatory audits as required by law.

The Board'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 1999-2000 Alameda County assessment roll, which contained 452,074 assessments having a total enrolled value of $91.5 billion.

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Note: A copy of the Alameda County Assessment Practices Survey Report is available upon request.