Real Estate Taxes

[Maryann Horsley]

We just received our Real Estate Taxes in the mail today. Has anyone else received theirs? Anyway, they are sooooo off the mark with the economy right now, it is outrageous. Is the city going to do something to adjust them?

There is noooo way we could sell our house and even come close to the price they are taxing us on.

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[clark5080]

The answer is no they are not going to adjust them.

You can try to appeal the amount

They would go down some of people would not vote for every levee that is put before them

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[celeste17]

Clark I agree. I look at every levy that comes across the election and really look at how much the tax would be if approved. The only ones I will vote for without a second look at the Medic One levys.

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[yikes]

My understanding is that you can only appeal after the assessment is received…sometime in July ish.

If you didn’t do it within a couple of months of receiving it, you have to wait til the next year.

Totally sucks.

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[HeavyMetalConservative]

Medic One should be put in as a budgeted item. I have never minded paying for good programs that help people. Sometimes I wish only homeowners could vote on items that take property tax but alas that wouldn’t be right. Why does the port need our dollars from property tax? Didn’t they just lose millions through bad management?

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[Duckitude]

I have to agree with HeavyMetalConservative. I am a social liberal but a fiscal conservative (oh, well, a mutant…) Homeowners SHOULD not be taxed for things that everyone else utilizes — they subsidize too many of the rest of us (even though, arguably, renters, like myself, pay for some of those property taxes through increased rents) BUT… fair is fair!

Any taxes based on appraisal or fair market value should have to be realistically adjusted in a timely manner to reflect reality…

Need a broader tax base in this state, other than property owners and sales taxes, which is why I support a state income tax and decreasing sales taxes…. uh, oh, now I am probably in BIG trouble. Sorry…

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[charlabob]

As long as homeowners (of which I am one) get to take IC deductions for property taxes, I think it’s perfectly reasonable for everyone to vote on the levys.

Duckitude, I absolutely agree with you about the need for a state income tax. The most unfair and inequitable tax — head and shoulders above the property tax — is the sales tax and that’s what everyone seems to favor as a base. I just don’t get it.

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[mrhineh]

The property tax rate runs about 2-3 years behind the housing market. So it should be cleaning itself up soon. BUT, that said, don’t expect a tax decrease. Why? Because what will happen is the multiplier will be increased so that there won’t be a revenue shortfall! Pretty sneaky, huh? So no matter what, your property taxes won’t go down, just the assessed value.

And agree on Income Tax, its time. Fear not. I should be based on INCOME, not OUTFLOW (taxed on what you spend). At 9%, thats crazy!

Now, don’t get me going on my recent Water/Sewer Garbage billing, talk about stacked! That has almost doubled in the past 5 years, and growing.

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[celeste17]

I have been telling my Mom that we need a Income tax for a couple of years now. I hate that everytime I turn around there is a raise in the sales tax or that there is a new property tax.

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[karen]

Yes, we got ours and I just laughed. With the market the way it is we couldn’t sell our house for anywhere near that amount!

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[alki_2008]

Hhmmm, I know I can’t be the only one that does NOT want a state income tax. ;-)

Then again, I’m also bothered that half of my property taxes are going to public schools that I don’t even use…so maybe I’m just odd. :-p

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[AlkiRagdoll]

celeste17- please run for governor <G> as I would vote for you if your platform was an income tax. Actually, I’d vote for any credible candidate that supported an income tax. The whole levy process in Washington is a joke, and it allows the politicians to get away with bad management. It encourages jerks like Tim Eyman to get away with killing programs and infrastructure projects that we need.

I own a business and a home in WS and am being taxed beyond belief … a huge state and city B&O tax, plus a West Seattle Business Improvement Area tax…. plus a huge property tax on my home and business real estate. Yes, I am fortunate to have these assets, but an income tax would be much more equitable and would likely improve city/state programs and infrastructure…. maybe we should consider it a form of Washington State stimulus… as my business would likely be better off, allowing me to employ and purchase more.

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[Maryann Horsley]

state income tax: i would just beward. it seems like once we add a state income tax, the goverment just adds to it and the sales tax and every other tax stay there and go up too. look at california, they have both & they both keep going up. i have family there and their sales tax is higher than ours AND they have a state income tax. my belief is that it just provides another area to grow so that then you pay in another area – beware for those who want a state income tax – the old taxes never go away –

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[oddreality]

What Maryann said.

I have friends in California that were just informed by the state that there will be no refunds of over paid state income tax this year,the state is broke, oh my,so they essentially gave the state $3000 . To say they are pissed is an understatement. They owe the feds and now the state is keeping their money.

Every state that has a state income tax also has a sales tax to my knowledge. Some of it may be removed for a couple of years but it always gets raised again. People in states with income taxes would love to get rid of it.I simply do not understand wanting to be taxed even more than you are already.I will never vote for anyone that wants state income tax.

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[alki_2008]

Thanks Maryann and oddreality…now I don’t feel so alone in my opinion about state income tax. California is a great example. Their income tax is about ~8% and sales tax is ~7-9% depending on county. However, their property taxes do not increase year-over-year the way they do in Washington. Local governments (cities, counties) have gone bankrupt before, and now the entire state is in trouble.

Rather than more taxes…how about revamping the way tax dollars are managed or adjusting the salaries of our elected officials? I’m not sure how WA salaries compare with other states in the country, but I know they’re considerably higher than Oregon.

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[rockhills]

Even though Washington has the highest sales tax over any state I have ever lived in, I MUCH prefer it to living in states with income taxes. I agree with Maryann and Oddreality and I would add that income taxes seem to encourage waste far more than they improve services. I am so glad I got out of California when I did!

I am confused by the claim that a sales tax is inequitable. I have heard it from several sources. How? Groceries aren’t taxed, and I’m sorry but our gas taxes aren’t going away even if we do get an income tax. Utilities: no sales tax. Everything else, to me, is discretionary (yes, even retail clothing.) I believe that most of us have a lot more control over what we purchase than what we make. Those who have a lot of money to spend on discretionary items are more likely to do, and pay the taxes associated with them. Those who don’t have a lot of money to spend on discretionary items (like me), pay more attention to what they are buying.

Jumping off my soapbox, now…

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