— from Charles Zalmanek, County Assessor —
Notices of Value for 2013 were mailed on Wednesday, November 21, to 11,078 San Juan County property owners representing a total of 14,020 parcels. No Notices were mailed for approximately 4,000 parcels whose values did not change in value since 2012. This is the second year for annual valuations in San Juan County, so changes in valuation are significantly less than what was seen in prior years when the County was reappraised by section on a 3 to 4 year cycle.
County wide, values have dropped by 0.8% since 2012. The largest average change in value was in the Town of Friday Harbor which decreased by 4.9%. The overall decrease in value for San Juan Island was 2.1%.
Shaw, Lopez and Orcas Islands showed minor increases in assessed values of 1.7%, 0.4% and 0.3% respectively.
A chart of value changes by service district is below:
|
2012-2013 Value Changes |
||||
|
Taxing District |
2012 |
2013 |
2012-2013 | |
|
District’s Assessed Value |
District’s Assessed Value |
Percent Change |
||
| Road District |
5,823,884,800 |
5,798,777,388 |
-0.4% |
|
| County Current |
6,291,741,005 |
6,243,626,313 |
-0.8% |
|
| Conservation Futures |
6,291,741,005 |
6,243,626,313 |
-0.8% |
|
| San Juan Island Parks & Rec |
2,578,978,610 |
2,525,988,391 |
-2.1% |
|
| Orcas Island Parks & Rec |
1,937,788,858 |
1,944,553,239 |
0.3% |
|
| SJI Hospital |
2,808,658,391 |
2,750,677,982 |
-2.1% |
|
| SJI Hospital EMS |
2,808,658,391 |
2,750,677,982 |
-2.1% |
|
| Lopez Solid Waste Disposal |
1,030,537,602 |
1,034,559,634 |
0.4% |
|
| Port | ||||
| Port of Friday Harbor |
2,578,978,610 |
2,525,988,391 |
-2.1% |
|
| Port of Lopez |
1,030,537,602 |
1,034,559,634 |
0.4% |
|
| Port of Orcas |
1,937,788,858 |
1,944,553,239 |
0.3% |
|
| Fire | ||||
| Fire District #2 – Orcas |
1,937,788,858 |
1,944,553,239 |
0.3% |
|
| Fire District #3 – San Juan |
2,180,835,785 |
2,152,559,656 |
-1.3% |
|
| Fire District #4 – Lopez |
1,030,537,602 |
1,034,559,634 |
0.4% |
|
| Fire District #5 – Shaw |
177,670,314 |
180,655,102 |
1.7% |
|
| Town of Friday Harbor |
467,856,205 |
444,848,925 |
-4.9% |
|
| Cemetery | ||||
| Cemetery District #1 – San Juan |
2,578,978,610 |
2,525,988,391 |
-2.1% |
|
| Cemetery District #2 – Orcas |
1,460,676,905 |
1,486,449,772 |
1.8% |
|
| Cemetery District #3 – Stuart |
62,184,215 |
61,602,795 |
-0.9% |
|
| Library | ||||
| Lopez Library |
1,030,537,602 |
1,034,559,634 |
0.4% |
|
| San Juan Library |
2,578,978,610 |
2,525,988,391 |
-2.1% |
|
| Orcas Library |
1,937,788,858 |
1,944,553,239 |
0.3% |
|
Under the new system of annual valuations, all properties are re-assessed every year at market value, creating improved fairness, uniformity and equity county wide and eliminating large increases (or decreases) in assessed values that sometimes resulted from a multi-year cycle.
If taxpayers have questions about the valuations reflected on their Notices of Value, you are encouraged to contact the Assessor’s Office at (360) 378-2172.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
Holy mac, I lost on my home 31%of the previous value. I am saddened by this as now I am upside down on my home loan. The good news is that now the county will get a lot less taxes from me….How in the world does this help the county? In the last assessment I lost $109900.00. This assessment I am down another $63650.00. So in the last 3 years my property has lost a total of $173550.00. How is that even possible. I understand the valuation to land and structures more than most. I fought the taxes a few years back when I thought that the evaluation was too inflated. Now I look at my taxes and am in total disbelief of the system. I believe that the assessor has taken into account other properties like mine that have fallen into bankruptcy and sold. This is a far cry to what the properties are even worth. This is a sad day for me and many others.
Dear all,
I fear the decreases in assessed value will NOT translate into lower property taxes. Perhaps someone at the county could explain that as part of this chain?
I’d like to know exactly how this valuation process occurred — and exactly what factors resulted in anyone’s specific decrease. It’s a blanket conclusion with no explanation. Rather than accept our calls one-by-one, perhaps the county could give us all relevant specifics? Yes, I’m asking ‘why’?? ‘how’?? We deserve clear answers — as Melissa says, this negatively affects many islanders, so the process and criteria should be made transparent to us all. Preferably right now. Thank you! Also — if you look at the decrease stats,very small, how does this figure w/ all the 31% decreases? Were there properties that increased in value, and if so which?
Steve Jung made a point: We who have had our assessments lowered will not necessarily see a drop in our taxes (which would be welcome, by the way). The per/$1000 rate will be set when the County sees what it needs to tax to satisfy the budget.
Also, I believe these assessments are based on “market value” from last January. (Please correct me if I’m wrong). They in no way determine the price someone will buy your property for.
If I did the math right!!! I had one piece of property the went up in value by about 28%. Another piece of property that went down in value about 35%.
If I remember right, the County collects the same amount in total but it is distributed differently, proportionately according to the new assessments. As for how the assessments are calculated, I had it explained to me a few years back when, at the peak (or valley) of the recession, our property was assessed at a significantly higher rate, and was left confused and bewildered.