It could soon cost property owners $15 more to challenge the city on how much you should pay for property taxes if a new proposal by the Board of Supervisors passes.
Under the proposal the administrative assessment fee paid to the assessment Appeals Board would increase to $45 from $30. “Conservative” estimates by the Board of Supervisors predict that it will bring the city an additional $70,000 for next fiscal year that would go to paying the city expenses incurred.
The proposed amendment would also waive the fee to property whose taxes is assesses as $7,500 or less.
It would also get rid of the finding of facts sliding scale fee system, instead charging a $215 hourly rate with a cap of 30 hours billed.
John Avalos, chair of the budget finance committee and sponsor of the amendment, said the fee increases were necessary because the board can’t cut any more positions as they are required by city rules.
“We spend a lot of city and time in the appeals –this would recover some cost, “ he said. “The mayor is been gripping that the board hasnt cut enough or ad revenue to the budget–this is one solution we have to respond.”
