JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SALE JUNE 20TH The Modoc County Vol. 133, No. 13
RECORD Alturas, California
June 19, 2025
$1.00
Serving Modoc Since 1892 16 Pages
Alturas Council Hears from Lumber Mill, Approves Elks Alcohol Permit, and Weighs Safety Concerns The Alturas City Council met Tuesday, June 17, to review a wide range of local issues, including a presentation from High Desert Lumber, safety concerns following a recent dog bite incident, and a request from the Alturas Elks Lodge to sell alcohol at this year’s Masten Ramsey event. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a brief opportunity for public comment. No one spoke during the forum. Council quickly approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from the previous meeting, city bills totaling over $251,000, an ACH reconciliation report of $163,743 for May, and the write-off of inactive water and sewer accounts from April worth just under $600. Representatives from the Elks Lodge received approval to sell alcohol at the Masten Ramsey
event, a longstanding local tradition. Council also heard from Matthew Digrazia, who raised public safety concerns after a recent dog bite incident. Councilmembers did not take formal action but listened to his comments and thanked him for speaking. High Desert Lumber gave an update on its current mill operations. No votes were tied to the presentation, but council members asked questions and acknowledged the company’s role in the local economy. Councilmember Brian Cox received approval to attend the League of California Cities conference in Long Beach this October. The annual event brings together city officials from across the state to discuss governance, planning, and legislative updates. Director of Public Works Warren Farnam presented two resolutions, both of
which were approved. The first authorizes the city to apply for a matching grant through Caltrans and the FAA for improvements at the Alturas Municipal Airport. The second allows the city to join a regional grant program for used oil recycling, with Modoc County acting as the lead agency. Council closed the meeting with staff and committee updates. The Police Department, Public Works, and Treasurer’s Office shared updates earlier in the week and were not on the agenda this round. The meeting ended with a closed session to discuss real estate negotiations involving several parcels of city property. No action was reported. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall.
Modoc County tops California For Property-Tax Value Modoc County leads California in getting the most value per propertytax dollar, a March 1 study by the personalfinance firm SmartAsset shows. The analysis compared each county’s statutory tax rate, public-school test scores and five-year change in home prices. SmartAsset lists Modoc’s base propertytax rate at 0.68 percent, below the statewide figure of 0.71 percent. The county’s median home value is $83,080, and prices rose 37.41 percent from 2020 to 2025. Those numbers produced an overall index score of 58.55, placing Modoc ahead of Trinity County at 57.51 and Madera County at 53.18. Modoc earned a 6 on SmartAsset’s 10-point school quality scale, calculated from district math and reading proficiency scores. A separate review by Ownwell, a property-tax appeal firm, puts the county’s median effective tax rate at 1.11 percent. That rate translates to an annual bill of about $948, well below the national median of $2,400. The gap between the 0.68 percent statutory rate and the 1.11 percent effective rate reflects California’s assessment rules. Proposition 13 limits the base levy to 1 percent of a property’s assessed value and caps taxable-value increases at 2 percent a year
unless the home is sold or substantially remodeled. Exemptions, such as those for homeowners and seniors, can further trim assessed value before the tax rate is applied. Local bills vary inside the county. Ownwell data show a median effective rate of 1.23 percent in Fort Bidwell, 1.14 percent in Alturas and 1.01 percent in
Willow Ranch. Knowing the neighborhood rate helps owners evaluate assessments and decide whether to appeal. For residents, the numbers mean most households pay smaller property-tax bills than the average U.S. homeowner while seeing home values rise faster than taxable values. County governments set the rate each year by
dividing their budget by the total assessed value of taxable property, and voters can approve extra levies for bonds or special districts. Under these rules, Modoc homeowners continue to contribute to public services while keeping tax costs relatively low compared with much of the state.
Alturas Police Arrest Unregistered Sex Offender Living Near Middle School
Alturas Police arrested a registered sex offender on June 13 after discovering he had been living in the city for years without updating his legal address. His home was located just blocks from Modoc Middle School. Officers identified the man as 62-year-old Michael Jeffrey Fowler. Although Fowler claimed he was moving between Alturas and Redding, an investigation found he had been living in a permanent residence in
Alturas for about three years. Police located Fowler on North Poplar Street and arrested him without incident. He was booked into the Modoc County Jail for violating California Penal Code 290.018(b), which makes it a felony for sex offenders to knowingly fail to register. Alturas Police say they remain committed to public safety and continue to monitor registration compliance closely.