Property damaged in earthquakes can be reassessed in order to pay lower taxes

Jul. 12--Owners of property damaged in the earthquakes that struck the Trona area are eligible to have their property reassessed at a lower value for tax purposes, San Bernardino County Assessor Bob Dutton said.

"Property taxes will be adjusted accordingly. It's important we do all we can to help those impacted by natural disasters," Dutton said in a news release Thursday, July 11.

Dutton also mentioned the relief at the community meeting Wednesday in Trona and expanded upon the topic Thursday.

To qualify, property owners must file a claim with the San Bernardino County assessor within 12 months from the date of damage. The loss estimate must be at least $10,000 of the current market value. This relief is available to owners of real property, business equipment and fixtures, orchards or other agricultural groves, and to owners of aircraft, boats, and certain manufactured homes.

San Bernardino County property owners who have questions about a reassessment in the Trona region should contact the Hesperia district office, 15900 Smoke Tree Street, Suite 120, Hesperia. The phone number is 760-995-8030.

Tax Collector Ensen Mason said Thursday that a special letter will be sent with tax bills notifying residents of the tax relief available.

Property owners in the Ridgecrest area should contact the Kern County assessor's office for information.

Also Thursday, The Community Foundation asked for donations that can be forwarded to charities supporting recovery efforts. The organization provides grants to nonprofit groups and scholarships to students.

Donations can be made online at thecommunityfoundation.net/ie-disaster-relief-fund-sb. Checks made payable to The Community Foundation with "Trona" written in the memo line can be sent to 3700 Sixth St., Suite 200, Riverside, CA 92501.

To support earthquake relief efforts in the Ridgecrest area, Kern Community Foundation is accepting online donations at kernfoundation.org.

Meanwhile, state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and California Earthquake Authority Chief Executive Officer Glenn Pomeroy said Thursday that they plan to remind insurance companies that sell earthquake insurance to follow California law.

"CEA policies can be purchased anywhere in California, at any time, and by anyone who has a home insurance policy with one of our participating insurers," Pomeroy said in a news release. "However, for new policies purchased after an event, we do not provide coverage for the next 360 hours, or 15 days, for earthquakes that are seismically related to the initial event."

Finally, San Bernardino County Supervisor Robert Lovingood said the Trona Transfer Station will accept waste from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The address is 83000 1st St., Argus.

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