News from Sacramento

ANTONIO VAZQUEZ AND MIKE SCHAEFER ELECTED TO

LEAD CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

The Nation’s Only Statewide Publicly Elected Tax Board

During its meeting on December 17, 2020, the California State Board of Equalization (BOE) elected Board Member Antonio Vazquez as Chairman and Member Mike Schaefer as Vice Chair to serve a second one-year term to commence on January 1, 2021.

Vazquez and Schaefer were selected to serve their current terms in January 2020 through a rotation policy in place at that time.

As Chairman, Antonio Vazquez will also continue to serve as a voting Member of the California Franchise Tax Board.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to continue my service to the people of California as Chairman of the BOE in 2021,” Chairman Vazquez said. “In 2020, the pandemic has presented the BOE with challenges that will continue to be a major focus in 2021, and I will persist in working diligently with the Board, BOE staff, and our stakeholders to develop strategies to address the impacts of COVID-19 and Prop 19 on property tax administration,” Vazquez concluded.

Vice Chair Schaefer continued, “I am honored to be chosen by my fellow board members to continue my service as Vice Chair of the California State Board of Equalization. It has been a pleasure to advocate for California taxpayers with Chairman Antonio Vazquez, and I look forward to continuing our work,” he said.

“The implementation of Proposition 19 is critical to California’s seniors, families, our severely disabled, and victims of wildfires,” he continued. “As Vice Chair of the State Board of Equalization, I’m committed to collaborating with taxpayers, the State Legislature, County Assessors, realtors, farm bureau leaders and other stakeholders, to make this new law work,” Schaefer concluded.

The elected Members of the Board of Equalization include Chairman Antonio Vazquez (Third District), Vice Chair Mike Schaefer (Fourth District), Ted Gaines (First District), and Malia M. Cohen (Second District).  Betty Yee, the State Controller, also sits on the Board of Equalization as an ex officio member.

The five-member California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is the nation’s only statewide publicly elected tax board that serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes.

For more information on the BOE, visit www.boe.ca.gov

Elected on November 6, 2018, Antonio Vazquez is the Chairman and Third District Member of the California State Board of Equalization, representing more than 10 million residents in Los Angeles, a portion of San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties. Vazquez previously served on the Santa Monica City Council for over 10 years, including holding the offices of Mayor Pro Tempore in 2015 and Mayor in 2016.

Mike Schaefer made history in 2019, when at age 80, became the oldest freshman constitutional officer in state history, taking his Oath of Office from Governor Gavin Newsom along with his newly elected colleagues, as a member of the California State Board of Equalization.  Schaefer is the Vice Chair and Fourth District Member, representing 10 million constituents in San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties.  He served for two terms on the San Diego City Council when he was 27 years old.