The tax rolls are in — and the numbers aren’t positive.

Porterville’s assessed property values for 2009-2010, like surrounding cities and Tulare County, are on the decline. It’s the county’s first drop in value, fueled by depressed reassessments of homes as the housing market has bottomed out.

The value of all property in the county is now $26.9 billion, a 0.96 percent decrease compared with the previous year.

“We are pleased that is less than 1 percent,” Tulare County Assistant Assessor Roland Hill said.

The rolls were submitted to the county assessor late Wednesday afternoon, and reflect a $1.7 billion reduction from last year.

Porterville’s assessed values account for about 8 percent of the county’s total, with $2.2 billion.

Lupe Diaz, administrative aid for Porterville’s housing programs, forecasts more foreclosures in the future despite lower property taxes.

“The values are highly affecting all of the community,” she said.

Property taxes are based on the assessed value of a property, and support city services like the police department, fire department and parks.

Porterville’s property values, which fell 3.8 percent from the 2008-2009 fiscal year, are just below average with the changes other cities in the county are experiencing.

The assessor’s annual report found that cities with the biggest changes in value are Farmersville (-12.2 percent), Exeter (-9.3 percent) and Visalia (-5.4 percent). The lowest are Dinuba (-0.75 percent), Lindsay (-0.79 percent) and Tulare (-1.5 percent).

City staff in Farmersville put in an additional effort this year to take precise records at every property, according to Sara Crumly, who does management analysis for the city of Farmersville.

Public Works counted every sprinkler and measured walls from end to end without making guesses or estimations, she said.

Farmersville officials conducted two public hearings about the assessment figures, but limited feedback was given, Crumly said.

“We wanted to make sure we were as fair to people as possible,” she said. “We know that times are hard.”

Hill, a Porterville resident, noted that several other California counties experienced harsher figures.

“We feel good,” he said.

Sacramento County faces a 6.4 percent drop and Riverside County’s totals are down 11 percent.

The overall decrease in property values was not a surprise to county officials. The Assessor’s Office reduced the assessed values on more than 80 percent of 40,000 single family residences under 1978’s Proposition 8, which permits assessment reductions when the fair market value is less than the base value under Prop 13.

Assessor Greg Hardcastle met his deadline somewhat early, as his department was granted an extension until July 31 to turn in the tax rolls to the county auditor. Now employees at the Assessor’s Office have already begun working on next year’s roll.

“It’s like a carousal ride,” Hill said.

-- Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050 or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.