Bill would curb tax board’s power over staff, spending

— After months of accusations about mistakes and improper use of power by its elected members, the state Board of Equalization could lose substantial power and gain an independent overseer under legislation introduced in the state Assembly.

The bill by Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) would shift much of the power over staff and spending away from the independent tax board and create a new inspector general to watch over its actions.

“What we’re trying to do is make sure that the reform is transparent,” RidleyThomas said. “That’s what I think the moment demands.”

The plan, which was introduced as an amended bill just before the Memorial Day weekend, comes in the wake of audits alleging that the tax agency made multimillion-dollar miscalculations on revenue allocations and that some of its elected members improperly used staff members who were supposed to be focused on tax collection. Gov. Jerry Brown last month called the situation a “mess,” and in April he asked for an investigation by the state Department of Justice.

The Board of Equalization has five members, inSACRAMENTO cluding state Controller Betty Yee, who serves in an ex officio capacity. All are elective positions.

The Assembly bill would transfer key staff decisions to the agency’s executive director and would require the board’s members to have funding for their operations detailed in line items in the state budget. It would also create an inspector general office and would require the board’s members to disclose all ex parte communications with those seeking action by the agency.

“I think that these issues can be addressed if we keep them in the sunlight,” Ridley-Thomas said.