Homeowners in Bellingham and Whatcom County are experiencing an increase in home valuations as a result of several factors. They include:
· Scheduled reassessment, which occurs every four years
· Self-imposed taxes in the form of new levies or bond issues recently voted into existence. These may include school levies, increased levy support for specific fire districts, the Greenways levy (for Bellingham), construction of the new City Hall in Lynden, and various other city-specific levies or bond issues within Whatcom County; and,
· The number of taxing districts that affect a given property.
Home revaluations do not necessarily generate a property tax increase. Why? Because taxes are levied against a group of properties (such as a taxing district), not by a specific home or property within that taxing district, according to Whatcom County Tax Assessor, Keith Willnauer. Homeowners wishing to appeal their increased home valuations may do so through the end of December, 2006.
Washington state limits property tax increases to one percent annually. Some taxing districts elect not to request an increase each year; Whatcom County was one such taxing body that did not request a tax increase for 2007, according to the December 21 issue of The Bellingham Herald.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Alert to Home Owners with Septic Systems
Welcome to my blog! This site will regularly post important information for home owners, renters, buyers, and sellers. Feel free to comment or simply read and be informed!
As of April 2, 2007, all homeowners in Whatcom County with on-site septic systems will be required to have their system inspected annually, or once every three years if theirs is a gravitational system. The required inspection must be completed by a Whatcom County Certified Inspector based on the county's standards found on their "Report of System Status" form.
Prior to the sale of any property with a septic system, this report must be on file with the Whatcom County Health Department, and must be provided to the prospective buyer in advance of completion of the sale.
As of April 2, 2007, all homeowners in Whatcom County with on-site septic systems will be required to have their system inspected annually, or once every three years if theirs is a gravitational system. The required inspection must be completed by a Whatcom County Certified Inspector based on the county's standards found on their "Report of System Status" form.
Prior to the sale of any property with a septic system, this report must be on file with the Whatcom County Health Department, and must be provided to the prospective buyer in advance of completion of the sale.
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