July means finding out just how much properties are worth, and in Fresno and Tulare counties, assessors are seeing growth.

The growth of Fresno County’s home, business, and farm values climbed a bit faster than last year, according to the annual report from Fresno County Assessor/Recorder Paul Dictos.

New rules allowing large-scale solar projects to be taxed helped accelerate the tax roll, Dictos said Monday.

County-wide, the sum of all property grew $7.4 billion, or 6.4% compared to last year, bringing the total value to $123.3 billion. Last year, property tax slowed to 5.53% growth after two consecutive years of more than 7%. Property taxes help fund education, police and fire services, public health, and municipal services.

“The property tax base of the county is strong and getting stronger,” Dictos said. “Better days could be ahead for Fresno as large-scale solar utility projects, previously excluded from property taxation, continue to fill up the vast expanse of fallow lands in west Fresno. This is good news for our communities.”

In Tulare County, climbing home prices helped accelerate the assessment roll, said Assessor/Clerk-Recorder Tara Freitas. The county similarly grew by 6% to $52.95 billion.

Governments More Reliant on Property Taxes

Among Fresno County cities, Sanger led the way, growing by 14.96%, followed by Huron with 10.97%, and Reedley by 9.05%. Fresno grew by 5.87%.

In Tulare County, Woodlake climbed fastest, exceeding 15% in increased value. Visalia grew by 5.7%.

Not only do existing properties help push values upward, but developing land contributes to the tax base.

In the city of Fresno, property tax provides a more stable revenue source than sales tax, Mayor Jerry Dyer has said. Sales and property tax at one time each provided about 33% of city revenues. More recently, the city has become more reliant on property tax, with the ratio nearing 40% for property and 30% for sales taxes.

Proposition 13 protections limit most liabilities, Dictos said. He said nine out of 10 property owners will only experience a 2% adjustment.