Property taxation: City of Bell: refunds for overpayment.

Existing property tax law establishes various procedures and requirements with respect to the annual allocation of ad valorem property tax revenues derived from the ad valorem taxation of locally assessed property. These procedures include a reduction in the allocation of ad valorem property taxes to a jurisdiction that imposes a rate in excess of the maximum rate authorized by law in amounts equal to the amount collected pursuant to the excess rate, and requires any amount subtracted from a jurisdiction's allocation to be allocated to elementary, high school, and unified school districts, as provided. This bill would instead require, with respect to the ad valorem property taxes collected in excess of the maximum rate authorized by law in the 2007–08, 2008–09, and 2009–10 fiscal years for the City of Bell, that the City of Bell pay the County of Los Angeles an amount equal to the amount of ad valorem property taxes collected in excess of the maximum rate, and would require the County of Los Angeles to make refunds to taxpayers, as provided. This bill would require those amounts remaining after making refunds to taxpayers, as specified, to be allocated to elementary, high school, and unified school districts, as provided. This bill would require the City of Bell to reimburse the county auditor for the actual and reasonable costs incurred by the county in administering these refunds and allocations, including specified administrative overhead costs. This bill would also make findings and declarations regarding the necessity of a special statute. By imposing additional duties upon county officials in issuing refunds or reducing the allocation of ad valorem property tax revenues, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.