Housing crisis hits East County tax rolls hardest

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:30:02 +0000

The East Bay Business Times last week reported that: “Contra Costa County and the cities of Antioch, Brentwood and Oakley will take what could be the region’s biggest tax hit from declining property…the three East Contra Costa County cities saw sharp declines in property assessments - down 8.84 percent in Antioch, 8.78 percent in Brentwood and 5.54 percent in Oakley. Contra Costa County saw just under a quarter of 1 percent jump in total property assessments, according to Assessor Gus Kramer.”

Property tax assessments for the 2008-2009 fiscal year reinforce the bleak picture that has been painted over the past 12 months of declining home prices caused by the mortgage meltdown, loan defaults and foreclosures.

Assemblyman Houston promotes tax relief for disabled veterans

admin — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:00:51 +0000

California State Assemblyman Guy Houston, (D-15), announced before a packed house, this past that he would soon be introducing legislation that would provide a full property tax exemption for all disabled U.S. veteran home owners in California. The current exemption of $100,000 of home value was passed in 1930, so the spirit of the law was to really take care of disabled vets, but $100,000 in California now is a pittance. Disabled veteran and Brentwood resident Bill Klug, (2nd Lt. US Army) researched the old statute and presented his findings to Houston.

Guy Houston stated, Saturday night, at the Marine Corps League crab feed, held at the Brentwood Veterans Hall, that “our disabled veterans have already paid their taxes, in service to their nation, on battlefields around the world, and that it (introducing and working to see this legislation passed) was just the right thing to do.”

The announcement was met with a thunderous applause by veterans present from all branches, from WWII, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the War Against Terrorism, as well as civilian supporters. Mr. Klug is active in the VFW, and is a veteran of Gulf War 1, and Operation Desert Storm.

HALFWAY TO CONCORD » property tax

Housing crisis hits East County tax rolls hardest

Assemblyman Houston promotes tax relief for disabled veterans