A little increase OK, but this much?

On Oct. 8 I received the value changes from the assessor’s office. What a shock! The values went up more than 48.5 percent, and I am one of the lucky people.

It’s hard enough to realize that we are in a terrorist war, that jobs and layoffs are effecting our economy and that 85 percent of the American public are suffering some sort of depression from the Sept. 11 disaster. Well, I am sure Snohomish County residents will suffer increased depression when they receive their tax values for 2002.

I am in agreement that the property tax should be raised, but there should be a reasonable limit to how much of an increase can be put on their property.

Many families have a two-person income, yet there are also families with only one income. Many families are being taxed out of their homes. Whether we want to believe it or not we are in a recession. Some people may have to make difficult decisions. Should they pay their taxes, pay their energy bill or the high cost of prescription drugs?

We have to live within our budget! The county needs to live within its budget. In doing so, it needs to reconsider the property tax assessments it has made in these trying times.

Stanwood

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