January 2006

Bill Leonard
State Board of Equalization

Guest Speaker Bill Leonard, California State Board of Equalization

Our speaker in January was Bill Leonard, the 4th District representative of the California Board of Equalization.

Bill pointed out that, unlike the court system, the burden of proof is on the taxpayer to prove the government wrong when they challenge a tax return. In addition, privacy goes out the window once you appear before the Board of Equalization; the records for that which is discussed or challenged become public record. Finally, he pointed out that even if the government is proven wrong, they have no liability to the taxpayer.

Bill also relayed to us a half dozen very sad stories where taxpayers were intimidated, and defeated by a 3-2 Democratic-controlled board. The Board of Equalization is made up of four districts in the state of California, and the Controller which is currently in Democrat hands. The Greater Bay Area has one district, which is represented by a Democrat. The Los Angeles area has another district which is represented by a Democrat. The third district extends through Orange County and San Diego County, and that is represented by a Republican. Bill Leonard, a Republican, represents many, many counties running the east portion of California from the Oregon border to southern California.

Being the optimist that he is, Bill pointed out the one fortunate thing about being a California taxpayer is that the California Tax Agency is an elected body, and that is not true in most of the states in the United States. He also pointed out that three of the five members of the current Board of Equalization will not be running for re-election in November, 2006. This gives us an opportunity to change the makeup of the board.

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