PRESS RELEASE
June 22, 2001

ASSESSOR’S OFFICE PREPARES FOR BAINBRIDGE ISLAND REAPPRAISAL - The Assessor makes area-wide assessed value adjustments each year based on a neighborhood sales analysis process. Additionally, the county is divided into six geographic areas and each year one sixth of all county properties are physically inspected and individually reappraised. Commencing later this year state accredited appraisers working for the Assessor will be visiting each of 20,445 properties on Bainbridge Island and in Suquamish and Indianola. The appraisers will be looking for any changes to the properties since they were last inspected six years ago. Positive and negative condition changes often require changes to on-going depreciation adjustments. Although new additions are added to the rolls each year based on permits obtained from city or county planning jurisdictions, much non-permitted remodel work is added to the tax roll during the six-year reappraisal inspection.

All commercial property within a reappraisal area is similarly inspected and appraised. Because commercial property is usually valued based on its ability to produce income, an income-based appraisal is considered the best indicator of market value. In preparation for this year’s mass reappraisal, the Assessor has recently mailed income and expense questionnaires to all owners of income-producing property on Bainbridge Island, Suquamish and Indianola. Information received from these taxpayers is not the basis for any specific appraisal, but is used to develop equalized average rates based on use and quality of a property. All information received in this process is considered and treated as confidential. Recipients of these questionnaires are encouraged to expeditiously return these forms. Answers to any questions about this process can be received by calling 360-337-7090 or toll free from Bainbridge Island at 206-842-2061 ext 7090.