Tax Board Won’t Urge California Assessors to Offer Virus Relief

California’s elected tax board members won’t push quick property tax relief for commercial property owners facing potentially lower values due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The five-member State Board of Equalization voted 3-2 to reject a proposal that it issue guidance to county assessors that they should accept claims for mid-year declines in value. It was one of several proposals that the board considered Tuesday in response to the pandemic.

• The proposal came from attorneys representing taxpayers before county assessors and assessment appeals boards. They argued that restricted access due to stay-at-home orders or contamination from the virus should be considered ...