County expects onslaught of calls over tax bills, I-747

LORRINE THOMPSON, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Saturday, February 2, 2002

THURSTON COUNTY -- Property tax bills won't arrive in mailboxes until midmonth, but county officials are already preparing themselves for confusion and calls.

Initiative 747 has already prompted calls to the Thurs-ton County Assessor's Office from property owners wondering how it will impact their tax bills, Assessor Patricia Cos-tello said.

When bills go out to taxpayers on Feb. 14, "We know we're going to get inundated with calls," she said.

Costello and other county staff members are gearing up to handle the calls.

Staffers are preparing written material about how the levy system works and how I-747 fits into it, putting information on the office's Web site, and training to answer tax questions.

"We're outreaching as much as we can," Costello said.

Initiative 747, approved by state voters in November, limits property tax levy increases to 1 percent a year unless voters approve a larger increase.

"The main misconception (of callers) is that their tax bills cannot go up more than 1 percent," Costello said.

That's not true because tax bills are made up of a variety of elements -- assessed property value (which increases or decreases based on the market), new construction or remodeling, special bond issues approved by voters, and regular levies.

Regular levies include those portions of property taxes paid each year to such entities as the state -- mainly for schools -- Medic One, fire districts, Port of Olympia, Timberland Regional Library, and to the county or cities depending on place of residence.

Initiative 747 limits these regular levies from increasing more than 1 percent per year.

However, Costello said, tax bills will vary in how they increase or decrease because:

- About 38 percent of tax bills in Thurston County are special levies approved by voters, and those rates and increases were set during the vote.

For instance, school maintenance and operation levies are special bond issues.

- New construction is not affected by the 1 percent limit.

- Assessed value increases or decreases based on the market, which is what similar properties are selling for.

Property values in Thurston County increased an average of 5 percent in 2001. However, property value changes varied widely, and their impact on tax bills vary based on the many elements of a tax bill.

"The levy system is so complex," Costello said.

"Even people who are very astute don't know what's going on."

County Commissioner Cathy Wolfe said the information being provided by Costello's office and outreach efforts is helpful, and she wants to make sure county taxpayers can get their questions answered.

Lorrine Thompson covers Thurston County and health for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5431.

Property tax information

For more information on the property tax system, and the impact of Initiative 747, visit the Thurston County Assessor's Office Web site at www.co. thurston.wa.us/assessor, or call the office at 360-786-5410.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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