Appealing Home Revaluations

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Story Published: Mar 12, 2009 at 5:37 PM PST

By Audrey Asistio

ELLENSBURG -- Kittitas County board of Equalization have a busy schedule this year. Board Chairman Jessica Hutchinson explained, "We're meeting for 3 months solid this year, we have over 470 appeals to go through."

That is the largest amount of appeals they have ever received. Upper Valley county homes were re-assessed in January 2008. County assessors planned to send out the results in May, but because they are understaffed, results were not sent out until November. This is during the time the economy took a turn for the worst. "Unfortunately, I think it did boil down to a timing issue. If they got them out in May, I don't think it would have been as personal to people. They wouldn't be in the economic situation they're in now," said Hutchinson.

Some people appealing their results told Action News they cannot afford the higher taxes. Many homes in Kittitas have risen anywhere from 35 to 40 percent. The average home value increase in Cle Elum jumped 60%. In Roslyn, several homes doubled.

Action News reporter Audrey Asistio asked Hutchinson, "What's the likelihood of someone getting their property revalued?" Hutchinson responded, "Well it all depends on how they present their information." It is too late to appeal for this year, but if you plan to appeal your revaluation in the future, make sure to know how much similar homes are selling for in your area.

In previous years, it only took the Board of Equalizers 1-2 weeks to take care of a couple dozen appeals. So far this year, they have taken care of less than a hundred of them and expect they will finish in June.

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