Record Withdrawals of Commercial Appeals with New Proactive Process Change

***PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT***

RECORD WITHDRAWALS OF COMMERCIAL APPEALS WITH

NEW PROACTIVE PROCESS CHANGE

SAN FRANCISCO –In mid-October of 2014, the Office of the Assessor-Recorder implemented a proactive information request process aimed at reducing commercial appeals hearing cancellations.  The goal of the initiative was to free up Assessment Appeals Board schedules to hear appeals cases, to obtain the information needed to conclude fair market value and to create efficiencies so that staff members are able to focus on appraisal work in other high need areas rather than preparing for cases that are never heard or cancelled.  

The new process was implemented in mid Fiscal Year 2014-2015. By June 30^th of Fiscal year 2014-2015, the Assessment Appeals Board reported a withdrawal rate of 38%, which is 2,675 cases. In Fiscal Year 2015-2016, the Assessment Appeals Board received 3,238 formal withdrawals, which is 20% more compared to the previous year.

“The withdrawal rate proves that the new process is works in weeding out the cases, saving our Office and the Assessment Appeals Board time and resources.  My view is that this new process will also encourage commercial taxpayers to consider whether they have a strong case for property tax reduction under State law before filing an appeal,” commented Assessor Carmen Chu. 

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