REPORT: CA not likely to return property taxes to disaster victims

Several states in this country have been impacted by natural disasters, but Tennessee recently set the standard.  

The state ordered the refund of property taxes to those impacted by Hurricane Helene, adding an additional 30% to help with recovery.  

According to reports, California is not likely to do the same.  

Setting the Standard 

It is not often the government gives money back after it has our cash in hand, but Tennessee even added some to Hurricane Helene victims.  

This week, Governor Bill Lee signed SB 6007, which states, “In connection with a disaster certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) occurring on or after September 26, 2024, and before September 30, 2024 (“qualified disaster”) and subject to the requirements of this bill and an appropriation by the general assembly, this bill requires the comptroller of the treasury to disburse payments directly to owners of all real or personal property that is subject to taxation in this state, excluding intangible personal property or public utility property (“property”), (i) whose property was destroyed or damaged by a qualified disaster, as determined by the assessor of property by January 28, 2025, and is located in a county included in the FEMA declaration; and (ii) who owned the affected property at the time of the qualified disaster. This bill requires such payments to be in an amount equal to the total amount of the tax levied on the property for tax year 2024 plus 30%.” 

The legislation passed through both chambers of the state legislature with unanimous approval.  

California does have laws in place that would allow for the refund of property taxes, but they are extremely limited situations.  

Make no mistake about it, there would have been damage from their fires regardless, but local and state authorities clearly screwed up.  

Calls were delayed, water was unavailable due to a flawed fire hydrant design, and police were not initially present to help with evacuations.  

Additionally, there were preventive measures that were not conducted in the time leading up to the wildfire season.  

So, as I stated, there would have been damage, but many believe it would have been significantly less had the response, both in real-time and proactively, been better.  

We can only hope reports like this put pressure on the state legislature and governor to fall in line with what Tennessee is doing.