Bontrager

In order to provide housing for low-income renters in rural areas, .the federal government developed housing programs aimed at subsidizing properties to produce lower rents. In a form of quid pro quo, the government subsidizes the interest rate on the financing for the property; in return, the owner lowers the rent to make it affordable to eligible renters. One of these programs, section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 ( 42 U.S.C. § 1485 ), commonly known as the “Rural Rental Housing Program” (hereafter Section 515), financed and operated three properties owned by real parties in interest Yreka Investment Group (Yreka). Unhappy with the 1997-1998 tax assessments of its properties, Yreka filed applications with respondent Siskiyou County Assessment Appeals Board (Board) for reductions in the assessed values of the properties. Following an evidentiary hearing before the Board, the Board granted Yreka’s applications and reduced the assessed values in accordance with the appraisals presented by Yreka. Siskiyou County Assessor Carl A. Bontrager (Assessor) filed a petition for writ of administrative mandamus, arguing the appraisal methodology used by Yreka and adopted by the…