Time to re-assess your property? Here's the scoop from Larry Ward.

Riverside County Assessor/Clerk/Recorder Larry Ward has published information on Proposition 8. Unlike some counties, in Riverside Larry takes the initiative to automatically evaluate property values every year and has reduced values (and taxes) in each of the past 3 years. The office is in the midst of looking at the market again this year to see if a wholesale reassessment will again be utilized or if the demand might be met by simply allowing individual homeowners to file their own reassessment requests if they think their values have declined further during the past 12 months (for the most part, they have not). However, if you would like to find out more and get a copy of what you'll need to file if you do, please visit Larry by clicking on his homepage.

Also note the prominent warning about the so-called 'Riverside County Tax Authority' mailer soliciting $167 to produce a copy of your grant deed. Larry will be happy to get you one for about $10 or $20 bucks. Don't get conned. Check with the authority first.