RCRC, in a joint letter with our county partners the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and the Urban Counties of California (UCC), has expressed strong support for Senate Bill 219, authored by Senator McGuire (D-Sonoma).  The recently-introduced SB 219 seeks to codify the county tax collector’s ability to cancel late payment penalties or other charges for property tax payers who have experienced financial hardship due to a shelter-in-place order.

The statutory authority offered by SB 219 would provide an important tool for county tax collectors to assist those impacted during a crisis, while sustaining revenue predictability for counties and local agencies that rely on property tax for the majority of their general funds.  Schools, counties, cities, and special districts make revenue and borrowing decisions based upon the predictability of the timing and amount of property tax revenue.  This predictability is vital to the financial well-being of local agencies to provide a wide array of services. 

The letter of support is available here.  For more information, contact Paul A. Smith, RCRC Vice President for Governmental Affairs at 916-447-4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.