Tax reduction must now follow

Published 3:19 pm Friday, June 19, 2009

Our taxes are increased regularly as our house values go up. We alone take all the risk in this most important investment for our families. The county takes part of our “profits” which at the time are only paper profits — no real profit till the house is sold. But those who tax get their profit immediately.

Now the assessor confirms that our values have gone down a lot. But the county tells us they may not be able to reduce taxes this coming year. How did they ever make ends meet five years ago before the values went up? Seems the county has adapted to high income lifestyle on our money.

Now many of us have lost jobs, earn less, can’t afford the mortgage and sell at a loss. We have begun severe spending cuts and adapted to living on less. It would seem the county could do the same except for police, fire and maybe one other.

If the county doesn’t have a mandatory (locked) Rainy Day Fund, with money set aside in good times, it might be a good idea.

Bob Ryan

Snohomish