Sacramento – California State Board of Equalization (BOE) Chairman Jerome E. Horton today announced several Board committee chair assignments effective immediately.
Board Member Fiona Ma, CPA, representing the new Second Equalization District, was elected to the Board in November 2014, and will serve as chair of the Legislative Committee, which evaluates legislative and budget proposals sponsored by the Governor, State Legislators, and Board Members for consideration by the full Board. The Committee also provides Board leadership in shaping California’s tax policy.
Board Member Diane L. Harkey, also elected in November, is the new Fourth District Board Member and will chair the Business Taxes Committee, which considers matters related to the BOE’s administration of tax and fee laws and proposes changes to regulations, policies, and procedures.
Board Member George Runner, who was elected to the Board in November 2010 and reelected in 2014, now represents the new First District and will chair the Customer Service and Administrative Efficiency Committee, which addresses issues that affect customer service to tax and fee payers, as well as administrative operations throughout the Board.
Board Chairman Jerome E. Horton was appointed to the Board in 2009, elected in 2010 and reelected in 2014. He now represents the new Third District and will assume the duties of Chair of the Property Tax Committee. This committee promotes uniformity and consistency in property tax assessment and administration by providing guidance to county assessors and their staffs, the BOE’s property tax staff, and other property tax practitioners through the Assessors’ Handbook, property tax rules, and other written guidelines.
“We have an extraordinary team of public officials serving at the Board of Equalization,” Chairman Horton said. “I am confident that their leadership in the designated areas will empower the BOE to strengthen California's economy, position California taxpayers to start, grow, and maintain businesses in California, and enrich the lives of our employees.”
Re-elected in 2014, Member Jerome E. Horton is the Third District Member of the California State Board of Equalization, representing more than 9.5 million residents in Los Angeles, a portion of San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties. He was first elected to the Board of Equalization in 2010. Member Horton also serves as the Board of Equalization's Property Tax Committee Chair. He is the first to serve on the Board of Equalization with more than 21 years of experience at the BOE. Horton previously served as an Assembly Member of the California State Assembly from 2000-2006.
The five-member California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is a publicly elected tax board. The BOE collects $60.5 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services. It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes. For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit the California Tax Service Center.
Note: This news release may discuss complex tax laws and concepts. It may not address every situation, and is not considered written advice under Revenue and Taxation Code section 6596. Changes in law or regulations may have occurred since the time this news release was written. If there is a conflict between the text of this news release and the law, decisions will be based upon the law and not this news release. For specific help, please contact the BOE at 1-800-400-7115.
