Tax news should halt raises, building

Published 4:14 pm Monday, July 7, 2014

Sunday’s Herald reports Snohomish County has begun refunding $5 million in property taxes already collected; $106 million in current taxable properties will be removed from the tax rolls. School and fire districts will experience resultant shortfalls, and pay raises for county officials have been recommended.

Previous Herald reports state the county is proceeding with a new courthouse. Owners of taxable properties still on the tax rolls will, no doubt, be required to make up refunds and shortfalls, and will be required to fund a new courthouse and any county pay raises.

Seems to me that the county should scrub proceeding with a new courthouse and pay raises until after recovery from refunds, shortfalls and tax roll/digest adjustments. If I am mistaken, an explanation as to how and why would be appreciated. Succinct deductive reasoning would be a big plus.

Ed Pearce

Marysville