Conflict-of-Interest

Conflict-of-Interest?

Does this situation seem like a Tax Assessor Conflict-Of-Interest to you? We pay the Board members (Realtors) to work in a government setting where they are in charge of setting the values and making the rules for taxes on the real estate that they can sell. The Board Members of the Spokane Tax Assessors Office are Realtors & Realty Brokers except for one who is a Lawyer specializing in Real Estate Law. I did not make this up! It is information buried in the Washington, Spokane County website (see links below). You just have to be willing to go on a search and rescue mission to locate it.

Meet the Board Members

How Much Money?

Let’s see, 6% of $250k equals a commission of $15k in commission,
but that same 6% on a $450k valued home sale comes to $27k in commission,
and that same 6% on a $650k valued home sale comes to $39k in commission. Realtor Commissions

With property values escalating so quickly, many may be unable to cover the increased cost of taxes. It is likely that they will lose their homes. A forced sale of your home to cover taxes is not a happy event in anyone’s life. Then, having to move somewhere else in this “housing-shortage” market, is a sentence to start over in a rental for most displaced homeowners. Taxpayer resentment after losing all those years of work to have their own home is not easily forgotten.

A tyrannical government sets paths to focus on low-income, fixed-income, and/or the elderly. Taxpayers’ non-involvement could very likely allow more to fall prey to this crooked setup. Losing a home at any stage of life due to out-of-control government greed is an atrocity. Wake up and smell the coffee.

Ridiculous Tax Inflation

Sky-Rocketing Tax Values

The Spokane County Tax Assessment Office crafted its own ridiculous tax inflation rates this year raising our property values by over $100,000 dollars. Does that sound reasonable to you?

We called to request a correction and the appraiser came out took pictures and ended up sending us a corrected assessment with a measly $2,000 reduction. As originally stated this is ridiculous! It is not a true or fair market value for our place, so we will have to appeal it. Filing an appeal will not be easy, but, we have to do something because this rapid inflation cripples us financially. Not a fund task at all.

Starting at the Spokane County of Washington State homepage URL “https://www.spokanecounty.org/“. Their homepage is built for people already familiar with all government offices, it is not helpful to the general public. I used a search for “property tax appeal” to find what department was correct to get information to start an appeal. Following is the information I was able to locate.

Appeal & Change in Value Forms

This page lists PDF forms that you can download to do an appeal.

General Outline of Appeal Process

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet the Board Members

Did you know that the Board Members of the Spokane Tax Assessor are all Realtors/Brokers except for one who is a Lawyer specializing in Real Estate? Does this look like a Conflict-Of-Interest?????

Parcel Information Search (SCOUT)

Preparing an Appeal

In the Beginning…

The Activist's Handbook — The Activist’s Handbook – Learn how to: Restore freedom, take the offensive, change the debate & hold elected officials responsible, by Tom DeWeese

In the Beginning… we were oblivious. But now we have grown discontent as our freedoms have disappeared more and more. At first, we thought it was because of COVID. But, this comical disregard for our freedoms in the Constitution and our Bill of Rights is absolutely NO ACCIDENT!m it is very intentional.

It has become apparent in the past couple of years that our government officials have no qualms about sabotaging our way of life. They will do anything at all to achieve their own agenda. With property taxes skyrocketing, many of us are facing the possibility of losing the homes we worked so hard to obtain. Left unrestrained the politicians and people in power could easily make our lives, homes and freedoms totally disappear if we don’t do something. It feels as though our hands are bound but we can still do something about this. It is no longer, “In the beginning…”

Seeing Tom DeWeese speak in Coeur d’Alene ID in December 2022 was a brilliant citizen wake-up call. We bought two of Tom’s books after the meeting,

The Activists Handbook TOC by American Policy Center

“The Activist’s Handbook” is pictured at the top of this post, this is the Table of Contents for The Activist’s Handbook.

and here is another essential book to read, “Sustainable” by Tom DeWeese.

Sustainable TOC — Sustainable by Tom DeWeese, The War on Free Enterprise, Private Property and Individuals TOC

My husband and I have begun doing our best to participate in making as much change as we can from here on out. Might as well give it our best try.

Don’t Miss THURSDAY!

THURSDAY!

Don’t miss Thursay! Please join us 5-7pm at Riverside High School to meet Senator Mike Padden (R) and discuss laws and policies affecting us here. Our representatives need us to tell them what we want them to do.

Chances are that you received this card in the mailbox and promptly threw it in the circular file before even reading it. Well, with so many political advertisements stuffing the box, it gets real easy to throw them away. Pete and I have certainly been guilty of that one, for sure. However, we need to be more careful about what we casually discard in these times. Aren’t you tired of how things are going? Take a positive step and attend this free meeting to begin making a difference.

Do you believe that US citizens should have a voice in how the government treats us?

Speak up and participate in communicating responsibly with our elected officials. Meet other people in the local community that may have similar concerns as yourself. Successfully create a network to work together and change things. Peter and I are becoming more involved in taxes, appointed committees, and laws that are affecting our rural way of life. Contact us with any questions you may have.

Remember

If you do nothing, then it is guaranteed that nothing at all will change.

“We the People…”