BOE issues dozens of LTAs, expands training: 984 students last year; 1,300 registrations for next fiscal year

Lauren Keach, chief of the County Assessed Properties Division, reported BOE staff issued a total of 16 Letters to Assessors (LTAs) for calendar year 2025, including five since the April meeting. The recent LTAs announced publication updates, the 2023 salary and benefits survey, disabled veterans exemption increases for 2026, updated TRA information sheets and the 2025 Taxpayers Bill of Rights hearing.

Keach and Deputy Director David Young also described the agency's training and certification program: for fiscal year 2024‑25 the BOE scheduled 32 classes and three webinars and trained 984 students. For fiscal year 2025‑26 registration opened in May with over 1,300 student registrations for a schedule that begins July 1 and includes 40 classes and two webinars.

"We continue to offer existing online basic training courses…as well as online courses and self‑study training sessions available on the BOE's website," Keach said. David Young added the move to remote instruction has allowed the BOE to expand capacity and meet higher demand from assessor offices.

On state‑assessed properties, Young (pinch‑hitting for the absent manager) said staff are completing the private railroad car roll (statements were due April 30), allocating values adopted by the board across counties under Revenue and Taxation Code section 746, and beginning audit season with engagement letters sent in June. He said audits are selected by a mix of targeted flags and random draw and that counties have not refused audits but may request schedule adjustments.

Keach and Young noted the expanded class schedule is enabled by virtual delivery and that BOE will continue to monitor enrollments and budget impacts.