The Herald recently published letters to the editor expressing concerns about property taxes. Property assessment in Snohomish County has become extremely aggressive. Last year the reassessed value of my 40-year old home increased 30 percent. Aggressive property reassessment combined with new property taxes for transit and schools (plus hospitals, libraries, fire districts, etc.) creates an unmanageable tax burden for more home owners (especially seniors and those with average incomes). Owners who are forced to leave their homes also face major expenses for selling and relocating. Low inventory of homes for sale and inflated prices make it difficult to remain in one’s community after selling.
Renters who voted for ST3 (Sound Transit) will experience higher rents because of escalating property taxes, but the annual increase for an individual renter will be far less than the tax increase for an individual home owner. A landlord can raise rents to compensate for big tax increases, but an individual home owner lacks that extra source of income.
It is not surprising that more property owners are feeling resentful of the gigantic tax break given to Boeing, since the company has betrayed public trust by continuing to reduce jobs. When will legislators and taxing districts realize there is a reasonable limit to the tax burden that can be absorbed by residential home owners? It is time to see the big picture here and encourage legislators to enact equitable tax distribution measures that support needed programs and services without forcing home owners out of their communities.
Karen L. Demetre
Edmonds
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