Editor,

The Island County Assessor’s Office has been invited by the Whidbey Island Association of Realtors to give a community presentation regarding the property tax assessment process here in Island County. There is a lot of misunderstanding of assessments and taxes, even among those well versed in real estate ownership.

Anyone interested in learning about the duties of your elected county assessor, the assessment process, what impacts assessed values, helpful tools and resources available to taxpayers and potential tax implications resulting from changes in assessed values is welcome to join us.

We will also be sharing basic information regarding tax relief programs available to seniors, disabled persons, farmers and timber growers.

If you are interested in learning more about the property tax assessment process, a critical function of your state and local government, we would like to invite you to attend this event. The presentation will take place Wednesday, Nov. 13, in Gregoire Hall at Trinity Lutheran Church located at 18341 SR 525 in Freeland.

It will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be followed by a question-and-answer opportunity, which should wrap up no later than 7 p.m.

If you are unable to attend this meeting but wish to be notified of a future presentation, please reach out to our office. We are also looking for opportunities to have similar dialogue on North Whidbey as well as Camano in the coming weeks and months as your elected assessor Mary Engle is very interested in improving the public’s understanding of the functions of the assessor’s office.

Jason Joiner

Chief Deputy Assessor

Island County