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LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	03/08/2021
Subject: AB 119 (Salas): Direct Levies
Submitted For:	LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Department:	County Administrator
Referral No.:	2021-08
Referral Name:	AB 119 (Salas) Direct Levies
Presenter:	L. DeLaney	Contact:	L. DeLaney, 925-655-2057

Information

Referral History:

County Auditor-Controller Bob Campbell requests consideration of AB 119 (Salas): Direct Levies by the Legislation Committee and a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors of a position of "Oppose." The CSAC position on this bill is currently pending.

Referral Update:

AB 119

Author:	Rudy Salas (D-032)
Title:	County Assessors: Direct Levies
Fiscal Committee:	yes
Urgency Clause:	no
Introduced:	12/18/2020
Last Amend:	01/26/2021
Disposition:	Pending
Location:	Assembly Local Government Committee
Summary:	Requires the county auditor, or other county officer designated by the county, to make publicly available on their internet website information about direct levies as defined, including the range of combined direct levies assessed on real property. Requires a website posting that identifies contact information for each direct levy assessed within their jurisdiction, to also include the range of fees assessed on individual parcels of real property subject to the special district's assessment.

Status:

01/26/2021	From ASSEMBLY Committee on LOCAL GOVERNMENT with author's amendments.
01/26/2021	In ASSEMBLY. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Committee on LOCAL GOVERNMENT

This bill would require counties to publish on their website range of possible charges for every direct levy charged by all taxing entities in the county. The information could be added to an existing publication, such as the one that currently lists contact information for all direct levies. The information required to be published would include special assessments, special taxes, parcel taxes, and Mello-Roos districts, among others. This bill is sponsored by the California Association of Realtors.

The concerns of the Contra Costa County Auditor-Controller are that the bill will confuse the situation, implying the County and specifically Auditor-Controllers have some control or oversight regarding the fees. Currently, we identify the contact information for the direct fees levied by an agency and individuals can go directly to the responsible jurisdiction.

The wide range of fee schedules could be more confusing than if the individual was to call the responsible jurisdiction initially. Moreover, a prospective buyer could look up the property tax bill for the property they are considering purchasing and obtain the exact numbers.

A letter from the California State Association of County Auditors opposing AB 119 is Attachment A.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

CONSIDER recommending to the Board of Supervisors a position of "Oppose" on AB 119 (Salas): Direct Levies and directing staff to send to the Board on consent.

Attachments
Attachment A: Oppose Letter