2018-02-07 Update with AssessorUpdate with Assessor’s Office
February 7, 2018
11:31 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Stamper, Assessor Dianne Dorey,
Marci Miess
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Assessor Dianne Dorey discussed the various levies, including
that of the Port of Centralia, reflected in the 2018 taxes.
Dianne said the state levy regarding McCleary, the school
construction bond and the Port of Centralia levy pushed
Centralia taxes higher.
Marci Miess left briefly at 11:35 a.m.
Dianne said values in Mossyrock and Onalaska appear to be
trending higher.
Marci returned at 11:36 a.m.
The group discussed tax increases due to taxing districts, especially those in Centralia, Boistfort and
White Pass.
Dianne said 30 applicants have applied for the Appraiser I position. She said another appraiser has now
left.
Arny Davis appeared at 11:42 a.m. and said that Roy Koegen is the county’s bond counsel. He left at
11:42 a.m.
Dianne said she has asked for the number of 2017 appeals for 2018. She said Candy Hallom indicated
there are 200 or so appeals but the Assessor’s office has not been notified of all of them.
Commissioner Jackson left at 11:44 a.m. and returned at 11:45 a.m.
Dianne and Marci reviewed 2016 for 2017 appeals. Marci said 19 Board of Equalization (BOE) orders are
past the law’s due date. She said the Assessor’s Office is still awaiting hearings for 40 cases.
Marci said three Motions for Clarifications are still in pending status.
Dianne discussed concerns about the timeliness of BOE hearings.
Commissioner Stamper left at 11:52 a.m.
Dianne said the Hirst decision will not affect taxation, thanks to the Legislature’s recent bill.
TO-DO LIST / RECAP
Commissioners: Follow up with
Candy about BOE concerns
Commissioners: Continue
looking into Salary Commission
Dianne discussed the proposed wind turbines. She said the project is a state-assisted utility and that it
sounds like RES plans to use existing Thurston County roads.
Dianne said eight people in the county, the elected officials minus the sheriff, did not receive raises in
2018. She said in 1998, all electeds, including the sheriff, were making the same salary.
Commissioner Jackson discussed the role of the Salary Commission, which operates as its own entity,
similar to how the commissioners appoint individuals to the PFD and the PFD operates independently.
Commissioner Jackson and Commissioner Fund said the board reviewed the resolution that tied the
sheriff’s salary to labor but did not come to a unanimous decision regarding changing it.
Dianne said it would cost less than $6,000 to increase the salaries for the electeds, excluding the
commissioners and the sheriff.
Dianne discussed what could take place if the 25-cent Flood Control Zone District levy rate were to go
into effect.
Marci said the county has 66,436 parcels. Of those, 239 petitions were filed in 2016 for 2017. She said
15 cases (2016 for 2017) were overruled as of Feb. 6.
Meeting ended at 12:17 p.m.