Taxpayers in California have a voice in the makeup of the Franchise Tax Board, electing two of its three members. The FTB is chaired by the State Controller, John Chiang. Other board members include Betty T. Yee, chair of the Board of Equalization, and Ana Matosantos, director of the Department of Finance.
- John Chiang, State Controller, Chair, Franchise Tax Board
- Betty T. Yee, Chair, Board of Equalization
- Ana Matosantos, Director of Finance
John Chiang, State Controller and Chair, Franchise Tax Board
John Chiang was elected to statewide office as State Controller in 2006. As one of California′s twelve constitutional officers, John is the highest–ranking Asian–American officeholder in the continental United States.
Mr. Chiang brings extensive experience and fiscal leadership to the State Controller′s Office. He was first elected to the Board of Equalization in 1998. During his two terms, Mr. Chiang represented the Board of Equalization on the Franchise Tax Board and led with innovative and groundbreaking taxpayer–friendly services like the State′s free income tax return program, ReadyReturn.
Mr. Chiang has sponsored innovative tax seminars to guide small businesses, non–profit organizations and religious institutions in understanding the state and federal tax codes. These programs provided access to information and services for those without the time, expertise, or resources to study the laws, rules, and regulations applicable to their circumstances.
Mr. Chiang has also boosted small businesses by sponsoring events featuring experts from various government agencies to explain in clear and concise language compliance issues, the latest tax laws, policies, rules, and regulations. These seminars provide entrepreneurs with the tools to strengthen their businesses and prosper.
Mr. Chiang graduated with honors from the University of South Florida with a degree in finance, and received his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. He began his career as a Tax Law Specialist with the Internal Revenue Service and served as an attorney with the State Controller′s Office.
For more information about the State Controller′s Office, please visit their Website.
Betty T. Yee, Chair, Board of Equalization
Betty T. Yee represents the State Board of Equalization First District, which is comprised of 21 counties in northern and central California. Ms. Yee has more than 20 years of experience in public service, specializing in state and local finance.
Prior to joining the Board, Ms. Yee served as Chief Deputy Director for Budget with the Department of Finance. In this capacity, she assumed the lead role in the development of the Governor's Budget, budget negotiations with the Legislature and key budget stakeholders, and fiscal analyses of legislation on behalf of the administration. Prior to her appointment to the Department of Finance, Ms. Yee served as senior staff for several fiscal and policy committees in the California State Legislature.
Preceding her legislative service, Ms. Yee served as a county public health commissioner and worked in the public and nonprofit sectors, developing and implementing health and social services programs for elderly and low-income individuals and families.
Recognized for over two decades of work on state and local finance issues, Ms. Yee received the Distinguished Service Award from the California State Association of Counties and an award of recognition from the California Assessors’ Association for her leadership in establishing the State-County Property Tax Administration Program.
Ms. Yee is a native and resident of San Francisco. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master's degree in public administration from Golden Gate University, San Francisco.
For more information about the State Board of Equalization, please visit their Website.
Ana Matosantos, Director of Finance
Ana J. Matosantos was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on December 31, 2009, as Director of the California Department of Finance. Ms. Matosantos first joined Finance as Chief Deputy Director for Budgets in April of 2008. Since 2004 Ana has served in the Schwarzenegger Administration in a number of capacities. She was a member of the Health and Human Services Agency staff from 2004 to 2007, as an Assistant Secretary for programs and fiscal affairs, and as Associate Secretary for Legislative Affairs. In 2007 she served as Deputy Legislative Secretary for Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs in the Office of the Governor where she worked on Governor Schwarzenegger's comprehensive health care reform proposal.
Prior to joining the Schwarzenegger Administration Ana worked for the California State Senate as a consultant to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, as the human services consultant of the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review.
Ana received her bachelor's degree in Political Science from Stanford University in 1997.
For more information about the Department of Finance, please visit their Website.