80% Property Tax Increase... Loosing my Home? (Camas: renting, mortgage, new home)

[dirscherl]

I have been doing some housing market research and according to the US Census 2.3% of US homeowners pay NO property tax. I am still trying to figure this one out. I am in Spokane and trust me, I feel the pinch. Not only have my property taxes gone through the roof in the last three years, I also get the added bonus of much heavier traffic,tons of gang activity, and schools packed past capacity for the kiddo's. My family first came here in 1880 and I never thought I would want to leave for other lands....sad to contemplate.

On a side note, I have also been researching the Growth Management Act. I wonder if there might be some legal precedent to argue for considering when you bought this property (was is pre 1991?) If so, I would considering digging through this website to see if you could request a hearing from the GMHB. Their website is: Growth Management Hearings Boards - Washington State

Just a thought since rezoning occured and land values did not go down post rezone ( I am assuming)

[StealthRabbit]

Thanks for the extra avenue to research, I don't qualify for GMHB, because I'm in a special management zone (the only Federal National Scenic area from what I've heard... but it has plenty of problems of it's own, especially now that the counties are administering it)

Some significant loop holes in I-747 will still leave much discretion to the assessor, as
1) the 1% is an aggregate amount, meaning the county can shift and shuffle the tax burden as they see fix, so long as total county tax stays within the 1% cap (if that would be possible)

2) the 1% does not include any voter approved taxes (think 'Super Majority' - ugh...I feel sick

[Ultrarunner]

The emergency hearing scheduled by the Gov. starts at 8:15 am in Olympia

King County Assessor Scott Noble has repeatedly said reimposing a 1% doesn't fix, in his words, the "crisis", the "catastrophe", the "disaster" that the courts created.

There are over 1700 local governments in Washington. Because of the courts, Rep. Ed Orcutt, ranking minority member of the House Finance Committee, reports that according to the Department of Revenue earlier this week that there's a total of $282.4 million in BANKED CAPACITY -- that's the amount that local governments can increase property taxes without a vote of the people (above the 1%).

Gregoire's bill repeals $23.4 million of that amount, but leaves in place $259 million. So the governor's bill threatens taxpayers with A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLAR PROPERTY TAX INCREASE ABOVE HER 1%.

I'm hoping for the best and planning for the worst.

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

The emergency hearing scheduled by the Gov. starts at 8:15 am in Olympia

King County Assessor Scott Noble has repeatedly said reimposing a 1% doesn't fix, in his words, the "crisis", the "catastrophe", the "disaster" that the courts created.

There are over 1700 local governments in Washington. Because of the courts, Rep. Ed Orcutt, ranking minority member of the House Finance Committee, reports that according to the Department of Revenue earlier this week that there's a total of $282.4 million in BANKED CAPACITY -- that's the amount that local governments can increase property taxes without a vote of the people (above the 1%).

Gregoire's bill repeals $23.4 million of that amount, but leaves in place $259 million. So the governor's bill threatens taxpayers with A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLAR PROPERTY TAX INCREASE ABOVE HER 1%.

I'm hoping for the best and planning for the worst.

The citizens of Washington need to remove the current government and start over.

[Tony1790]

Originally Posted by stingray427

The citizens of Washington need to remove the current government and start over.

Gotta love a country that you can lose the election count twice, but can keep on counting until you eventually "win", promise not to raise taxes and then immediately start raising taxes! What a great system that we have.

[StealthRabbit]

If any of you get a good link to describe the current news on this let us know. (Those of us who live in the news shadow of PDX,) I did hear that they made progress on this today, and have a relief provision for those with incomes less than $57k/ yr. (that may help, I hope...)

But... with the previously 'banked' $$ I don't see a breather in this. The REP web site mentions that the non-elected governor was feeling pressure from the right to do this. And as they mentioned she certainly hasn't been one to curtail "BIG" spending... Washington State Republican Party :: News Item - Gregoire Changes I-747 Stance Under Pressure from Rossi

If its politics, its propaganda...(regardless of who's side is whining) and some think we live in a democracy ... But there are whole government infrastructures to support that she created in her previous positions. (she must really like the fluff that CARB will create, it may even dwarf her Clean Air empire). As we know, government doesn't get smaller or more efficient.

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by Tony1790

Gotta love a country that you can lose the election count twice, but can keep on counting until you eventually "win", promise not to raise taxes and then immediately start raising taxes! What a great system that we have.

sounds like communism government controls everything and not really a free country here. iRS is gestapo

[cdelena]

The news this morning is that I-747 has been reinstated so that we are back to increases being capped to 1% annually. It would be interesting to see the details and if this can be rolled back as easy as it was reinstated.

[StealthRabbit]

here is a bit of discussion regarding yesterday's action. I've yet to see the official details
Sound Politics: One percent tax cap passes

[Ultrarunner]

When I started this post it was because my assessment increased 80%. My assessment is still 80% higher than last years.

At the same time, prop I-747 was thrown out by the WA Supreme Court. (I-747 limited Statewide Property Tax Increases to 1%)

The good news is that the 1% cap has been reinstated... due, in large part, to voter outrage.

It is good news and I am pleased the legislature stepped in. Home owners, as a group, have been granted some relief.

On the downside, taxing districts that have been "Banking" tax increase authority still have the right to implement all "Banked" taxes.

Also, the Assessor is still free to increase property assessments to whatever he believes the property to be worth.

The 1% cap is good, however, individual property taxes are still subject to dramatic increases based on "Banked" taxing authority and assessment increases determined solely by the Assessor's Office.

Thank You to everyone that helped make the 1% cap a reality...