Sonoma County’s net assessment has hit an all-time high of $101,756,932,176.00, an increase of 3.23 percent over last year, according to the 2021-22 assessment roll that Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor Deva Marie Proto delivered to the Sonoma County auditor-controller-treasurer-tax collector last week. The amount reflects the value of all real and business property in Sonoma County as of Jan. 1, 2021.
Property tax revenue generated by the assessment roll funds vital institutions, such as public K-12 schools, community colleges, counties, cities, as well as public benefits and services. Approximately half of local property tax revenue goes toward public education.
The 3.23 percent increase to the assessment roll can be attributed to Sonoma County’s very strong residential market combined with a 1.04 percent increase in the statewide Consumer Price Index over the same period.
Property owners whose market value has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to file an application for a change assessment form with the clerk of the board by Nov. 30, 2021.
With the addition of the 2020 LNU Lightning Complex and Glass fires, calamity assessments continue to be a focus for the assessor’s office. Property owners who suffered a loss in the 2020 LNU Lightning Complex and Glass fires are encouraged to file a calamity damage reassessment form within one year of the calamity event. Owners of these affected properties are eligible for a reduced assessment in their Proposition 13 property tax value until construction repairs are completed (subject to certain conditions). Forms are available online at sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Assessor/ or by calling the office at (707) 565-1888.
The assessor’s office is still in the process of reviewing properties that fall under Proposition 8, which instructs the assessor to use the lower of either the current market value or the factored base year value under Proposition 13. The assessor’s office has sent information requests to commercial property owners of specific use types regarding potential market value impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other property owners whose market value has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to file an application for a change assessment form with the clerk of the board by Nov. 30, 2021.
Proposition 19, passed in November 2020, affects parent-child and grandparent-grandchild exclusions and base-year value transfers; however, this legislation is still under review by the California State Board of Equalization for guidance and regulations. At this time, it is unknown how Proposition 19 will affect future assessments and any questions should be directed to the California State Board of Equalization’s Proposition 19 website at boe.ca.gov/prop19/.
The 2021-22 assessed value notices are posted online at sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Assessor/. The assessor’s office phone number is (707) 565-1888 for any questions regarding property tax assessments.
