Supes back away from processing fee vote

MARTINEZ -- After a lengthy discussion, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors this week put off voting to adopt the fees the county would charge cities for processing property taxes, according to the county auditor-controller.

Stephen Ybarra said the supervisors decided they want to "foster good relationships with our cities and by taking this unilateral action today when at least six cities have written letters of protest could easily be construed as not fostering good working relationships with the cities."

The supervisors will reconsider the issue at the May 13 meeting, he said.

Danville, Martinez, Oakley, Brentwood, Antioch, Concord and Clayton say they are being overcharged hundreds of thousands of dollars in county processing fees on tax money the state is repaying to the cities.

The cities sent letters to the supervisors protesting the county's decision to include vehicle license fee and sales tax reimbursements from the state as property tax revenue when calculating the annual fee the county charges cities to assess, collect and distribute property taxes.

Ybarra maintains that the county is within its legal right to include the state payments as property tax revenue. He said County Administrator John Cullen plans to schedule a meeting with city leaders soon to discuss the issue.

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