Homeowners appeal not upheld due to withdrawal

In the Jan. 17 edition of Your Voice, Don Collings wrote about the assessor’s office and the Board of Equalization (Most complaints fail; vote assessor out).

I feel it’s important to respond. In this case Collings’ property value assessment went from $241,200 in 2006 to $270,500 in 2007, a 12 percent increase. This increase is in line with what real estate prices were then doing in Spokane Valley. The resulting tax increase amounted to a whopping $12.78, a .3 percent increase.

Collings appeal was not upheld because he withdrew his appeal before a hearing was convened. No evidence was provided by Collings that indicated the appraiser had made an error. Chief Deputy Assessor Kevin Best has written a wonderful article providing advice to taxpayers on how to win an appeal. It is still available on the assessor Web site.

Collings further complains that he couldn’t get information from my office when in fact we post every sale of every property in an easy to use search feature on our very extensive Web site. We also mail comparable sales information before board hearings convene as required by the law.

Collings also asserts that Joe Mann, chairman of the Board of Equalization, is “in the pocket of the tax collector” (County Treasurer, Skip Chilberg) and is no “advocate for the people.” I know Joe Mann to be an honest, fair, and caring contributor to our community and he doesn’t deserve to have his name besmirched by such an uninformed individual like Collings.

Collings must understand that the BOE is not an “advocate for the people.” It is chartered to hear and decide property assessment disputes based on clear, cogent and convincing evidence. Tantrums and baseless, mean-spirited accusations are almost never clear, cogent and convincing.

Ralph Baker

Spokane County Assessor