||| FROM BOB DISTLER |||
With virtually no change in assessed valuation, our home’s property taxes will increase by about 17% compared to last year.
While I understand the somewhat byzantine relationship between assessments and mil rates, it would be interesting for someone in San Juan County government to explain how, with underlying inflation running less than 3%, such a large property tax increase does not suggest a county budget out of control.
**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.**
It is now clear, after all these years, that the County budget is certainly out of control. Massive amounts of our tax dollars have been spent on activist “wants” not the needs of taxpayers.
There will be no levy lift to correct this sad management situation. Large cuts will need to be made throughout the County government. Thankfully, we may have a Counsil that understands this political reality and has the will to act.
Bob –
I may not understand your query…
If memory serves, Orcas voters passed 5 special-purpose district levy increases in 2025.
Hospital District: +$0.285
Library District: +$0.205
School District 1: +$0.198
School District 2: +$0.139
Fire Department: It depends on when they issue the bonds (?)
So, this is a voter-approved increase of $0.827/$1000 + the fire bond’s associated levy.
Based on my math, this represents a 13% increase from last year’s effective mil rate of ~$6.355/$1000.
My guess is that the remaining ~4% of the increase (using your math) is due to some part of OIFRs $0.27 bond related levy…
Honestly, I’m not sure if they’ve issued any of their voter-approved bonds yet, but it’s my best guess.
Even if the last 3% could be attributed to “the County” (though I’ve seen nothing to support that), it would be in line with inflation (yay!)…
So, what exactly would you like the County to weigh in on…?
One further point:
If you look at the itemized breakdown, you’ll find that the County assesses two mil based property taxes:
(1) County Current Expense and (2) County Roads.
These account for (1) 7.6% and (2) 5.5% of the total tax bill (~13.1% of the total tax bill).
This could be compared to the State’s portion of 31.6%.
The “County Current Expense” levy was passed in 2019.
Since 2019, inflation has been somewhere between 26% and 29%.
The county is bound by I747, and thus can not raise its rate more than 1% per year.
It has effectively lost 10% – 13% of its purchasing power due to inflation.
No wonder the County is considering a levy increase!
Also, to further clarify an assertion from above OIFR has indeed approved the collection of $1,250,000 in 2026 to fund their bond repayment account, so that 4% is probably due to additional funds collected for the Fire Department’s capital apparatus.
I really hope this letter to the editor is not a bad-faith argument seeking to associate this year’s significant tax bill increase with decisions made by anyone other than Orcas voters…