Mendocino County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters, and Assessor Katrina Bartolomie informed the Board of Supervisors last week that her office has uncovered $5 million in additional assessed property value. This discovery follows years of public concern that residential properties with repressed assessments due to Proposition 13 and commercial properties purchased significantly below market value had not been reassessed after ownership changes or new construction as required by law.
Bartolomie reported that the county now employs three property appraiser technicians who have been randomly selecting areas throughout the county to verify that structures are being properly assessed. In August, the team reviewed 1,087 parcels, bringing the total number of parcels reviewed to 3,706. As a result, they discovered eight previously unassessed structures, including sheds and pools, adding $289,000 in assessed value.
In addition to these discoveries, 378 more properties were assessed, identifying two single-family residences, cabins, and a shop. The total assessed value for these properties reached $703,000. In total, the county's recent efforts have brought nearly $5 million in new assessed value to the tax roll.
Redwood Valley resident Adam Gaska, who first raised concerns about unassessed properties three years ago, noted Bartolomie’s report is a positive step. However, he said there remains uncertainty about how many properties still need reassessment. Gaska’s initial concerns arose when he observed that some cannabis farmers had purchased land at significantly lower prices than market value, with property assessments not updated for years.
“At first I thought something shady was happening,” Gaska said. But upon closer inspection, there were so many issues with under assessed properties that it appeared to be a systemic issue. He added that delays in reassessment can cost the county significant tax revenue, as California law limits the county to collecting only four years of back taxes once a property is reassessed.
Mendocino County currently has an amnesty program in place until November to encourage property owners out of compliance to come forward without penalties related to building permits.
