Property values do not drive tax hikes, Clallam assessor says

PORT ANGELES — How much your real property is worth has little to do with how much tax you pay — at least in year-to-year variations.

Although property taxes are assessed by a rate per $1,000 of a home’s or business’ value, that’s where the connection ends.

County assessors and treasurers collect taxes according to how much money all governments — the state, the county, the hospital, the library, etc. — will spend in the coming year.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

After they total all those budgets — which cannot grow by more than 1 percent each year — they divide the amount by the total property value of the county and determine the levy rate.

In other words, the more property is worth, the less the rate will be. The total tax — unless people raised levy lids or approved new taxes — won’t grow very much.

Clallam County Auditor Pam Rushton said other states tax by rates, not by budgets.

Like salary, wage earners

She compared the difference to that between a salaried worker and a wage earner.

A salaried worker earns a set amount no matter how many hours he or she works — like Washington’s system — and working more hours translates to less money per hour.

A wage earner, however, is paid by an hourly rate. The longer the person works, the more money he or she earns.

“Your actual taxes are the amount of money that each of those taxing districts have to run that district,” Rushton said last week.

Confusion comes when property re-evaluations arrive in people’s mail months before their tax bills do and property owners imagine that a rising evaluation will mean proportionately higher taxes.

“They’re going to see some changes in values,” Rushton said.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean they will see a difference in taxes.”

Value climbs, rate drops

To illustrate the phenomenon further, Rushton compared the total property valuation in Clallam County in 2000 with its value in 2007.

In 2000, real property was worth just less than $4 billion, and owners paid an average $11.32 per $1,000.

Seven years later, the total value of property had doubled, but the rate dropped to $8.29 per $1,000.

“Our levy rates are some of the lowest around,” Rushton said.

Big tax hikes come because voters approve them.

“People do need to know when they vote stuff in” — such as Olympic Medical Center’s levy lid lift that will take effect in 2009 — “they’re going to be paying more,” Rushton said.

It’s too late to appeal an evaluation this year because it must be done within 30 days after receiving a re-evaluation notice.

How to appeal, get relief

Taxpayers still can appeal their next year’s evaluation, however, before July 1, 2009.

They should call Susie Breitbach, clerk of the Board of Equalization, at 360-417-2330.

Elders and disabled people also can get tax relief — either by shifting the burden to other taxpayers or by deferring their payments — and should call Rushton’s office at 360-417-2202 to learn more.

Most people who received re-evaluations this year live in the county’s West End.

________

Reporter Jim Casey can be reached at 360-417-3538 or at jim.casey@ peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Mason Combs is 4 feet, 3 inches tall and has red hair, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office)
Child located after agencies partner on search

A 10-year-old boy who had been missing since Tuesday has… Continue reading

Sequim research lab testing ways to use seaweed, resources

PNNL is only Department of Energy lab with marine facilities

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow visor, Sarah Maloy, left rear, Paulette De Llario, right rear, and Mary Claire Hunt, rear, helped clean up the Salish Coast Production Garden at the Salish Elementary School in Port Townsend on Saturday. The garden produced more than 5,000 pounds of produce used for the school lunches last year and farmers are aiming for 7,000 pounds in 2025. Hunt will be honored as a community health hero by the Jefferson County Public Health department for her efforts in bringing together farmers and gardeners who donate their crops to the Jefferson County food bank with a presentation on Thursday at the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Garden cleanup

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow… Continue reading

Foundation purchases hospital equipment

Linear accelerator to be installed in May

Port Townsend updated on city’s workplan

Forty-five of 61 projects on track, city manager says

Welfare for Animals Guild receives $1,500 to provide spay and neuter services at the guild’s free veterinary clinics. Pictured, from left, are Laura Nieborsky, Barb Brabant, Emily Murphy and Mel Marshall.
Garden club makes donations through local grant program

The Port Angeles Garden Club has announced donations to… Continue reading

Facilities district for pool paused

Jefferson County does not receive grant

From left, Port Angeles school board members Sarah Methner, Mary Hebert, Stan Willams, Superintendent Marty Brewer, Kirsten Williams, Sandy Long and Nolan Duce, the district’s director of maintenance, turn the first shovel of dirt on Saturday at the location of the new construction just north of the present Stevens Middle School. An estimated crowd of 150 attended the ceremonial ground breaking. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles School District breaks ground at new middle school

Building is expected to open to students in 2027

Family displaced following house fire

A Clallam County family has been displaced due a… Continue reading

Two investigated for burglarizing home

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two individuals… Continue reading

Beach cleanups set for Earth Day weekend

Beach cleanups, a seed exchange, seed planting and music will mark Earth… Continue reading

Easter egg hunts scheduled for Saturday

Easter activities, including egg hunts and pictures with the Easter bunny, are… Continue reading