NEWS ALERT AND PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
By Cindy Schorno, Broker for Yelm Real Estate

     Thurston County is out and about on the land in Southeast Thurston County including the Yelm, Rainier, and Tenino areas.
     As many Southeast Thurston County residents have recently heard and experienced, Thurston County Assessors have been updating their records with regard to improvements on land.

     This is primarily standard practice. The County assessors are mandated by State law to make a physical assessment of land and the improvements thereon at least once every six years.

     This may require assessors to enter property in order to verify their records. This normally pertains to the size and use of any buildings on property.
It has come to our attention that, in some cases, assessors have identified buildings while on the land or from aerial photos- which the State provides on a regular basis.
In many instances this involves unknown or unpermitted buildings, not of record. Many county residents have subsequently received letters from the Thurston County Compliance Office requesting compliance for unpermitted structures.

     This is not new to the Southeast Thurston County areas. It’s been going on for years.
Patriots, many of whom are well intended, have convinced many individuals that the County has no right to tax their land or the improvements thereon or to enter upon their land.
We’ve heard these arguments for the last 20 years and there’s more every day. However, to our knowledge, none have been ultimately successful.

     Of course this creates chaos in these areas, and gives rise to many questions, such as:
Do they have authority to enter my land? Do they have authority to tax my land? Or the improvements thereon? Do they have the authority to demand that I comply with their permit requirements? What do I do about their demand for compliance with regard to permits? Do I have to comply? What can they do if I ignore their demand? Do they have a right to enforce their demands? How will this affect my use of my property now or in the future? What can I do? How do I find out the answers to these questions?

     FIRST ASK YOURSELF-   Have I ever lived in a State, County, City or Town in the United States, or any other Country that didn’t impose property taxes on land or the improvements on land? Were not the taxes based on an assessment of the value of the land and the improvements on the land? How were these assessments determined? Is it reasonable and fair to all that these assessed valuations be based on an actual inspection of the property, the improvements thereon, and the use of the property? How else could it be accomplished? What is fair to all concerned? Would it be unreasonable if they assessed without an actual physical inspection?

     BOTTOM LINE: WITH REGARD TO PROPERTY TAXES:
In Washington property taxes are levied on January 1 of each calendar year. The annual tax is deferred with regard to payment. The 1st one-half is due by April 30th and the 2nd one-half due by October 31. Interest is imposed if these payments are not timely paid. If taxes are delinquent for three years , the County begins to foreclose its priority lien by way of Judicial foreclosure in the Superior Court, a court of record. Due process affords and provides the opportunity to object and defend, and incidentally, to raise any or all your arguments of choice as above mentioned. If the County prevails, the Court issues a writ of execution on the judgment and the Sheriff is authorized to auction the property in order to collect the delinquent taxes. An owner may prevent the Sheriff’s sale by paying the delinquent taxes plus costs prior to sale.

     AND LASTLY, THURSTON COUNTY; ARE THEY ON A WITCH HUNT?
It’s our understanding that every County in Washington is under a State mandate of Compliance. First, to bring all unpermitted structures into compliance and second to get all improvements on every parcel of land on the tax rolls.

     Traditionally, the County operated only on a complaint basis. The County set compliance in motion with the adoption of numerous compliance enforcement amendments and additions to the County Code in the late 1990’s.

     I have firsthand knowledge from my uncle, Thurston County’s 20 year Sheriff, Gary Edwards, that his primary objective and focus was crime and finding and shutting down methamphetamine production and distribution. Sheriff Edwards was reluctant to devote valuable staff in search of unpermitted structures.

     The Planning and Development Department took the initiative staffing its own compliance division sometime after 2000. Initially, this compliance office was quite active and aggressive, but, things seemed to quiet down for awhile.

     Of course, development growth increased significantly in Thurston County between 2000 and 2007, being the fastest growing area in the State of Washington. Compliance staff personnel are also building inspectors, and perhaps this explained the slowdown in compliance enforcement.

     Conversely, as development slowed down in 2007-08, compliance enforcement seems to have been rekindled. In any event, it now appears to be a priority.
Whatever the reason, or rationale, it’s the Thurston County Commissioners who are ultimately responsible for and are designated protectors of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Thurston County.

     Clearly, unpermitted, uninspected buildings are viewed as potentially dangerous health and safety hazards in the minds of many County officials.

     In any event, it appears residents expect considerably more attention from the Thurston County Compliance Office in the future in the Southeast Thurston County areas.
It is our understanding that the County staff is doing their job. Residents can do their part by educating themselves regarding the zoning code for their property, the zoning and building ordinances for Thurston County, and what types of buildings require permits. Realtors, attorneys, architects, and engineers in the community can also assist residents with their particular circumstances.
   IS THE COUNTY ON A WITCH HUNT? OR JUST DOING THEIR JOB? YOU DECIDE.

Next article coming..... Water in Thurston County.....

Yelm Real Estate

CINDY SCHORNO Owner/Broker YELM REAL ESTATE 360-400-YELM (9356) 715 Yelm Ave E. Suite 7 Yelm, WA 98597

Cindy Schorno Owner/Broker