El Segundo — California State Board of Equalization (BOE) Chairman Jerome E. Horton issued the following statement Monday, June, 16, 2014, in response to the Legislature’s approval of the state budget.

“I’m happy to see that the Legislature worked together to get an on-time budget done so we can continue the business of California without any delays in services or programs. We’ve seen some increases in spending on programs that have felt the pinch in recent years, while at the same time we avoided tax increases on Californians as they continue to get back on their feet after the economic downturn.

“Providing most of our BOE employees a cost-of-living increase is a positive. However, it is unfortunate that the Assembly budget trailer bill language that would have authorized the Department of General Services to begin the process of consolidating Sacramento-area BOE employees and relocating many of them from its troubled headquarters building is not a part of the spending plan on the Governor’s desk. The Senate and the Governor will have a second chance with AB 1656, a bill currently going through the legislative process, that will do just that.”

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Elected in 2010, Chairman Jerome E. Horton is the Fourth District Member of the California State Board of Equalization, representing more than 8.5 million residents in Los Angeles County. He is also the Board of Equalization’s Legislative Committee Chairman. He is the first to serve on the Board of Equalization with over 21 years of experience at the BOE. Horton previously served as an Assembly Member of the California State Assembly from 2000-2006.

The five-member California State Board of Equalization is a publicly elected tax board. The Board of Equalization collects more than $56 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services. It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes. For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit www.taxes.ca.gov.