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This information is provided by the candidate
Distracted by scandals, the Assessor-Recorder's office has been losing multi-million tax battles with large corporate property owners.
- In August 2005, $3.6 million was lost to the owners of SBC Park
- The San Francisco Chronicle reports that "$100 million in tax revenue is at risk" in 2005
- Over 50 large landowners are asking for property-tax breaks totaling more than $8.8 billion
Coupled with state loopholes that benefit large property owners, the result is that homeowners' share of the property tax burden has increased 20% in the last 15 years. If the trend continues, San Franciscans will be paying higher taxes and receiving fewer services than ever.
To meet these challenges, we need an Assessor who can win these battles. Each appeal is fought out at the Assessment Appeals Board, an independent body that sits like a jury. Large corporate property owners have spent up to $250,000 on a single case + an amount equal the entire Assessor's budget to defend such appeals.
As an attorney, Gerardo Sandoval knows how to negotiate a winning settlement. As Assessor, he will personally handle the largest appeals himself, working to guarantee the city can continue to fund services for our children, seniors, and all City residents.
As our Assessor, Gerardo Sandoval will:
- Strengthen the appeals team that defends tax appeals by large corporate property owners
- Work with the Board of Supervisors to get more funding for the appeals team, an investment that could save San Francisco millions
- Lead a coalition of local, regional and state leaders to fight to close tax loopholes that are forcing homeowners to pay a larger burden of property taxes
- Enact Zero Tolerance for favoritism, nepotism, cronyism and corruption
- Reforming the Assessor-Recorder's office by stamping out cronyism and implementing zero-tolerance policies for corruption
- Ensure that seniors, the disabled, and all homeowners receive the tax-deductions and exemptions they deserve
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![[photo]](sandoval_g.jpg)
