Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., said the revenue numbers show the value of Proposition 13. "Many honest county assessors have told us that Prop. 13 has more than once in times of economic uncertainties been a godsend to local governments," he said.
Property taxes provide most of the money a county can spend as it sees fit; federal funds are designated for specific programs.
In Los Angeles County, the assessment rolls include 2.3 million parcels and about 300,000 pieces of business equipment, boats and airplanes. The county receives about a third of property tax revenue, cities get a quarter, school districts take 20% and community redevelopment areas and special districts combined receive 20%.
Auerbach and other assessors said it's too early to predict where the property rolls will go in the next year, particularly if the housing slump continues. "We are good at [reviewing current values], not predicting the future," he said.
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cara.dimassa@latimes.com
Times staff writer Garrett Therolf contributed to this report.
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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
Proposition 13 effect
As home prices fall, county assessors report that tax revenue has increased.
*--* County Increase Previous over last year's year increase Los Angeles 6.9% 9.3% Orange 3.7% 8.3% Riverside 1.45% 17% San 5.1% 15.9% Bernardino Ventura 3.2% 8.1% *--*
Source: County assessors' offices
