Fresno's Accounting Errors Led to $34 Million in Overpayments to Schools. An accounting error by the Fresno County Auditor's Office led to the county overpaying schools $34 million in property tax revenue over four years, the Fresno Bee reports.
"The county will be sending a letter to the school districts in the next few days telling them how much they have to pay back," the newspaper reported. "Although the Auditor's Office first notified the Fresno County Office of Education about the possibility of repayment last April, the county needed to figure out how much was owed before contacting the school districts."
Ultimately, the state will repay the schools. The Bee explained: "Whenever property tax revenues come in lower than budgeted, the state is required to make up the difference to school districts. Because the county overpaid property tax revenues to local districts, the state didn't have to kick in any money during the past four years. Now that the overpayment has been uncovered, the state is obligated to reimburse the districts." (Source: Fresno Bee, February 3.)
Cal-Taxletter, February 6, 2009
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