[BenIndy editor: I’ve been around long enough to know that Valero Benicia Refinery routinely appeals its tax assessment, and that Solano County has been known to roll over and “give away the farm.”  Who in Benicia will monitor this and advocate for the City and County?  Check out the Solano County Assessment Appeals Board.  – R.S.]

Solano County assessment roll increases for eighth year in a row

Solano County Assessor-Recorder Marc Tonnesen announced Monday morning that the local assessment roll for properties throughout the county for fiscal year 2020, 2021 increased by $2.9 billion — or approximately 4.94 percent — in assessed value over last year.

“This is the eighth year in a row that the total assessed roll value increased countywide,” said Marc Tonnesen, Solano County Assessor-Recorder in a press release. “The real estate market showed steady growth over the past year, while new construction continues to add value to the property tax roll.”

At the close of the roll, the value of all assessable property in Solano County was nearly $60.9 billion ($60,888,053,079). This “net roll” is used by local agencies as a starting point to calculate the distribution of property taxes for the benefit of the cities, schools, special districts and local programs.

“Closing the roll this year involved some unique challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, but I am proud to announce the timely completion of this roll,” Tonnesen said in the press release. “As far as values are concerned, since the values in this roll are derived based on the January 1, 2020 assessment date, the overall impact COVID-19 has had on local property values will not be reflected until we begin work on the fiscal year 2021/22 assessment roll.”

As real estate market values continue to rise, the number of properties on Proposition 8 status – which is a temporary reduction in a property value below the established Proposition 13 base year value – has decreased. There are currently 8,507 parcels on Proposition 8 status, a decrease of 367 from the previous fiscal year. The total number of parcels on Proposition 8 status peaked 2012 at 78,000 parcels. There are 149,588 parcels county-wide, spread between the seven cities and unincorporated county.