By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. (April 8, 2025) — PLACERVILLE, Calif. — El Dorado County property owners got a crash course in how to read their property tax bills, understand title reports, and prepare for changes in state law at the well-attended “Property Taxes 101” seminar this week. The event, designed to demystify the complex world of real estate taxation, brought together public officials and private-sector experts for a rare, one-stop opportunity to get answers to commonly misunderstood issues.
Key presenters included Jon Deville, El Dorado County Assessor; Karen Coleman, Treasurer and Tax Collector for El Dorado County; and Ron Morton, Senior Advisory Title Officer with Placer Title Company.
Throughout the course of the seminar, speakers addressed several critical topics affecting homeowners and prospective buyers. These included how to locate property taxes and supplemental tax charges on a preliminary title report, why properties are reassessed, and how to clear a tax lien from a property title. The seminar also clarified the roles of Placer Title Company and the County Tax Collector in resolving lien-related issues.
“Supplemental taxes often catch people off guard,” “They result from property ownership changes or new construction and are billed separately from annual property taxes.”
said Coleman.
The audience was also updated on Proposition 19, which affects the ability of some homeowners—primarily those over 55, severely disabled, or victims of natural disasters—to transfer their existing tax base when moving. Deville emphasized the importance of understanding eligibility and the deadlines associated with these tax base transfers.
Morton addressed how to interpret preliminary title reports and the value of title insurance, especially when dealing with properties that have been through tax sales. “When you’re looking at a property that’s been sold at auction due to unpaid taxes, due diligence and insurance are critical.”
A portion of the seminar was dedicated to tax-defaulted properties and tax sales, where parcels are sold at public auction due to long-standing delinquent taxes. Attendees were informed about how these sales work and what to expect in the process.
“This event is a resource every homeowner should attend at least once,”
said Julia Tate, Assistant Treasurer and Tax Collector.
“We want residents to be informed, proactive, and protected.”
For residents who missed the event, officials recommend visiting the El Dorado County Assessor’s Office and Treasurer-Tax Collector’s website for downloadable guides, frequently asked questions, and contact information for follow-up questions
