Assessor Dronenburg releases 2018 assessment roll

SAN DIEGO – Assessor Ernest Dronenburg Jr. has certified the 2018 property assessment roll listing the value of all taxable property in San Diego County at $543.6 billion. It is an increase of 6.11 percent or $31.3 billion over the 2017 roll.

The net assessed value after the deduction of property tax exemptions for homeowners, disabled veterans and charitable organizations is $521.8 billion. Based on Proposition 13’s statutory 1 percent tax rate, it will produce approximately $5.21 billion in tax revenue to fund schools, law enforcement, parks and other public services.

“This is the fourth consecutive year the assessment roll has increased in excess of 5 percent thanks to the continued growth of the housing market and the economy as a whole,” Dronenburg said. “In addition to the strong real estate market, the assessed business property value increased by 5 percent, to just over $18.2 billion, setting a record for San Diego County. The increases to the business roll are strong indicators that business owners are optimistic about the local economy and are making capital investments in property and equipment.

“While housing affordability is a challenge in San Diego County, 83 percent of property and homeowners will only see a 2 percent increase in their assessed value due to the protections offered by Proposition 13,” Dronenburg said. “Proposition 13 protects taxpayers by offering predictability and limitations in property taxes allowing homeowners to financially plan for homeownership and help ensure they can afford to stay in their homes. Without Proposition 13 protections, taxpayers could be subject to more frequent reassessments and higher property taxes, making it unaffordable for them to stay in their homes.

“Proposition 13 protects San Diego’s homeowners while providing a steady and predictable source of property tax revenue, making it easier for state and local jurisdictions to plan and sustain their services,” Dronenburg said. “Typically, the largest single revenue source for local cities and the county is property taxes.”

The 2018 assessment roll is from Jan. 1, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2017. The local assessment roll is the annual product of the San Diego County Assessor and certified by the assessor. The roll serves as an economic tool for budgeting used by city, county, special district and state agencies.

Some of the more notable items from the 2018 Assessment Roll are:

● The city of Imperial Beach realized the highest assessed value growth rate at more than 10 percent.

● The city of Poway realized the lowest assessed value growth rate at more than 4.94 percent.

● The city of San Diego had the largest value increase, adding $15.8 billion, an increase of 6.4 percent.

● The 2018 Assessment Roll consists of 998,298 real estate parcels, 57,973 businesses, 13,018 boats and 1,510 aircrafts.

● Assessed business property value increased by 5 percent to just over $18.2 billion, setting a record for San Diego County.

In preparing the assessment roll, the hardworking and dedicated staff of the assessor’s office reviewed 138,000 recorded documents; reassessed 62,200 properties that changed ownership; enrolled 12,900 new construction values; canvassed 132,000 businesses and processed over 57,000 property statements, 23,000 of which were submitted electronically.

Assessor staff also performed annual assessment reviews on 80,000 Proposition 8 properties, partially restoring the values on 54,141 parcels and fully restoring 13,895 parcels. Proposition 8 allows the assessor’s office to temporarily reduce assessments in down market years.

Property owners can obtain their 2018 assessed values on the assessor’s website after July 1 at http://www.sdarcc.com or by calling the assessor’s office at (619) 236-3771.