Solano County Grand Jury
• 2023-2024
Property Tax Assessment & Payment Processing Review Solano County Grand Jury 2017-2018
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 2 findings
F1
– Assessment Appeals Board - The Solano County Grand Jury finds a regular pattern and practice of repeated assessment appeals initiated by a few large commercial property owners that extends for many years. This pattern has resulted in the County incurring significant defense costs and ongoing fiscal opportunity losses amounting to millions of dollars.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1a
- Since the primary basis of the pattern of appeals is an annual claim that the value of their commercial property is but a fraction of the assessors’ current and previously mutually agreed to valuations, the problem is evidentiary. The AAB’s established rules and procedures be strictly applied to these cases in order to encourage a timely and rational resolution of valuation questions.
R1b
- The AAB take steps to expedite the assessment appeals process and limit the granting of waiver agreements under Rule 10 of the Local Rules. Similarly, written requests for postponements and continuances must show good cause for a postponement under Rule 25 of the Local Rules.
R1c
- The Board of Supervisors, County Counsel and Chair of the AAB take all available measures to obtain relief from the regular pattern of repeated, prolonged appeals that expose Solano County to unnecessary risk and potential financial loss.
F2
– Solano County Integrated Property System (SCIPS) Replacement Project - SCIPS is an aging application using unsupported, outdated software with limited technical resources. Platform updates are expensive and disruptive. A multiyear replacement project has been authorized and a $10 million reserve fund created. The vendor product currently recommended by the stakeholders is not fully in production in California. Delay in replacing the current system puts the County at operational and financial risk due to the dwindling viability of SCIPS.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
– County project team in the SCIPS replacement program continue to monitor the installation in Southern California. Based on results of that installation, the County’s options be revised if necessary. Upon final system selection, it is imperative for the Solano County stakeholders to work together closely to implement the installation, testing, security and training on a new integrated property system for end users.