From the Assessor

 

As I once again put down my thoughts in this annual publication I am mindful of the fact this is my tenth time to do so.  This is the sort of milestone that twelve years ago I never would have expected to achieve.  Serving as a county assessor was never on my long range career plan.  However, I assure you I feel fortunate and very blessed to find myself in this position.  I enjoy the work.  I am also very fortunate to be surrounded by a group of dedicated professionals who embrace the idea that it is the taxpayers of Kitsap County that pay for us to do the work we do.  While quality of our work product is always important to us, of equal importance is the efficiency in the way we do that work.  We are all proud of the fact that we now have 28.5 of us doing what 38.5 did just ten years ago. 

In our budget based Washington property tax system, operating efficiently is the only way we in the assessor’s office can work toward lowering the property tax burden.  My favorite saying during our past 5-6 years of rapidly escalating real estate values was: Rising real estate value does not mean rising real estate taxes.  Regrettably, it is now time to alter that statement to its reciprocal:  Reduced real estate value does not mean lower real estate taxes.

When the January 1, 2007 assessed value is compared to our January 1, 2008 assessed value most all non-waterfront residential property saw a decline in assessed/market value of 3-4%, while waterfront and commercial property, typically had no change in value.  The vast majority of property owners will see almost no change to their property taxes when the Treasurer sends out the 2009 bills in mid February.  The only exceptions to that are:

• Owners of waterfront and commercial property assumed a slightly larger tax burden because their values stayed the same while all others went down 3-4%.

•  Any parcel where new construction was added last year will see an increase related directly to the value of the new construction.

• Significantly higher EMS levies were approved by voters in the City of Bremerton (57%) and the Poulsbo Fire District (66%).

• Bainbridge Island voters approved a 32% increase to their metropolitan park district levy.  This will be offset slightly by a reduction to their bond levy.

Property tax relief continues to be available to seniors (over 61years of age) and those disabled from full-time employment.  Those who make less than $35,000/yr should definitely contact our office.  This income threshold has not been changed by the legislature in six years.  I fully expect the state legislature will address this in this year’s session.  Eligible taxpayers who are close to the $35,000 limit should definitely be in touch with their elected state representatives and senators on this matter.

As always please feel free to contact our office about anything having to do with your property taxes.  We look forward to answering your questions and helping you in any other way needed.

Sincerely, Jim Avery
360.337.7085 (direct line)