Earthquake damage might affect property tax assessment

SCOTT WYLAND, THE OLYMPIAN

THURSTON COUNTY -- People whose homes were severely damaged by Wednesday's earthquake may be eligible for tax relief.

Homeowners can file a claim with the county Tax Assessor's Office requesting that the assessed value of their homes be reduced, resulting in lower property taxes.

But the cost of repairs must be at least 20 percent of the assessed value of the house, said Patricia Costello, an agent with the county Tax Assessor's Office.

"It's really for the major things that need to be repaired," such as structural damage, Costello said.

It's not designed for people facing lighter repairs, such as broken windows and cracked chimneys.

Earthquake victims who want to file a claim for a tax exemption can call 786-5410.

Homeowners first must hire a licensed inspector to survey the damage. They can then request the required paperwork from the Assessor's Office.

If repairs are done before July 31, the homeowner won't be eligible for the tax reduction, Costello said.

The reason: Damage extensive enough to be worth a fifth of the home's assessed value should take longer than six months to fix, she said.

Two years ago, some Carlyon Beach residents were displaced from their homes because of a mudslide, Costello said. Their property taxes were knocked down to almost zero.

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