Tax assessor outlines property-tax timetable ahead of budget season

Orange County Tax Assessor-Collector Octavia Guzman presented an overview of the property tax-rate process to the City of Orange Council on Jan. 27, stressing calendar deadlines and the data the assessor's office needs from taxing entities to calculate rates.

Guzman told council the office begins preparing months ahead of October and that taxing units receive preliminary values around April 30. She said the appraisal district must certify rolls by about July 25 and that she aims to distribute certified rolls and worksheets around Aug. 1. Guzman described the three rates the office calculates in August — the no-new-revenue rate, the debt rate and the voter-approval (ceiling) rate — and noted that councils must adopt budgets and tax rates no later than Sept. 30 to avoid defaulting to the lowest rate.

“I literally collect, probably 70% of my levy in the month of January,” Guzman said, explaining the seasonality of collections and why her office’s calendar is offset from a typical fiscal year. She emphasized the value of early communication about reserves, debt-service obligations and any sales-tax reductions so the assessor’s office can produce accurate worksheets and calculations.

Council members thanked Guzman for the walkthrough and said the presentation will help the council plan earlier budget workshops. Guzman offered to provide materials and meet with council members during the August calculation period to demonstrate how the worksheets are completed.

The council did not take formal action on tax rates at the meeting; Guzman’s presentation was informational and framed the schedule the city will follow this spring and summer.