The efforts of San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk Jordan Z. Marks have recently drawn commendation for providing substantial property tax savings to many disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. At a Board of Supervisors meeting, Marks reported that his office's Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption Unit helped more than 17,500 individuals save over $29.5 million in taxes this past year.
San Diego County has taken the lead in California, with the Assessor's Disabled Veterans' Exemption Unit being the most active in qualifying homeowners for tax savings. According to the San Diego County government's official website, the unit has successfully qualified 17,763 San Diego County disabled veterans and surviving spouses for its Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption during the 2024 tax roll year, which ended on June 30. This amounted to a collective savings of $29,596,349 for the veterans and their families.
The proclamation by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors declared October 22, 2024, as "Disabled Veterans Exemption Unit Day". This initiative celebrates the Assessor’s office for its outstanding service, leadership, and commitment to the veterans of San Diego County. Supervisor Joel Anderson praised Marks's office for proactively ensuring veterans receive the benefits they have rightfully earned.
The Assessor's office indicated requirements to be met for availing the tax reductions, including a VA letter confirming a 100% disability or unemployability due to service-related injuries and possession of a DD-214 document summarizing military service. The application process is reportedly swift, taking about 15 minutes to complete. With the U.S. Census Bureau estimating over 200,000 veterans residing in San Diego County, many more may be eligible for such benefits.
