Taxes and Building Codes,Then What?

Pete standing above main elec panels after the fire — Pete by main elec

Taxes and Building Codes, Then What? You already know about 3 steps we have taken post wildfire from our previous post.

STOP Everything!!!

Before you jump into cleaning up and building take a look at this. Destroyed Property Tax form! If you fail to submit a form before you start, the property tax assessor’s office will not give you a break on taxes at all. But is all the paperwork worth it? It is not a huge break, but maybe every little bit counts for those of us who have lost everything.

Destroyed Property Form (Fillable PDF Application)

Destroyed Property Form (B&W Printable Application)

State Laws (For Your Information)

The second form to submit, is needed if you have already paid property taxes this year so you can request a refund on those taxes. Honestly, the value of your home has decreased quite a bit! Are you looking at a pile of ashes where your home used to be?

There will be no reductions on your taxes prior to the fire for this year. The Spokane County Tax Office will keep the full value of your property taxes paid for the first part of the year, through to August 18th (date of the fire). After you send in the form to the assessor’s office, they will have to come out and verify how much of a “loss of value” you have experienced. What percentage. They will then reduce the taxes on the remainder of this years taxes by that percentage.

Rebuilding?

If you are rebuilding, when you are done, the taxes will immediately return to 100% full blast again. Furthermore, the tax collector will not suffer any losses, because, during the next tax levy period they “can and will” raise the rates to cover their losses from this, “tax break”. Our taxes will increase again.

Remember that when you are at the bottom
there is only one way to go, UP!

3 year Tax Break for Disaster Victims

Not Really!

3 year tax break? There are some credits available to apply for but if you read all the paperwork you will see that as soon as you rebuild, those credit’s disappear into thin air. The worst part is that the Assessors Office can make up the difference for their losses in tax collection during the next levy period. So, the fire disaster victims do not get a 3-year break from our high property tax assessments after all.

Here is what the Spokane Tax Assessor Announced:

Tax Relief Options for Those Impacted by Fires

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – Spokane County Assessor Tom Konis issued a statement making wildfire victims aware of property tax relief available to those suffering from destroyed property because of the Gray and Oregon Road fires…

FAQ Guide About Destroyed Property (6 pages long) from the Washington State Department of Revenue, along with additional details on the state law. After reading through all of it, what looks most important… just in case you are a little busy with that disaster thingy.

If you have damages that exceed 20% of the assessed value on your property tax assessment, you can apply for a 3 year break on your taxes. Applications must be submitted prior to starting construction on new improvements…

Q15 They will prorate the taxes for this year….

Q16. What happens if I replace the destroyed property?
If the destroyed property is replaced with new construction… the taxable value for that assessment year will include the new construction value as of July 31. The total value will take into consideration the new construction as well as the value reduction due to destroyed property. The value of any portion of new construction completed after July 31 will be added to the assessment roll for the next assessment year.

Q19. How is the reduction or refund of current year taxes calculated?

Q20. If property taxes have already been paid, the county will issue a refund based on the assessed value reduction.

Q23. Can taxing districts impose an administrative refund levy for collection in the subsequent tax year based on the destroyed property adjustments?

Destroyed Property Form (PDF Application)

Destroyed Property Form (B&W Printable Application)

State Law

Submit a Petition For Property Tax Refund

PetForPropTxRefnd

We must remember to request a refund from the Dept of Revenue, by filling out a Petition For Property Tax Refund form. Be sure to remember these three generous politicians in the next election.

Tom Konis

Spokane County WA, Tax Assessment Office Assessor’s Website Homepage: 509-477-3698

Michael Baumgartner

Spokane County Treasurer

Mary Kuney

Chair of the Board of County Commissioners and representing District 4.

Gas Prices

The skyrocketing gas pump prices make it difficult to even consider taking a relaxing scenic drive anymore. During the past couple of weeks, I drove around painting beautiful scenes outside. The smile did not leave my face, and the only downer I felt was at the gas pump. I could not remember when was the last time I went for a drive. American freedoms could soon become a thing of the past. The American Response to the Great Reset

To understand what is behind all of this check out this little booklet, “The American Response to the Great Reset“, written by Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA. It is a short 39-pager that explains it so it is easy to understand. This is the best-condensed reference I have found on the subject.

With the COVID health crisis announcements of fear 24/7. We switch to an ecology-driven scare tactic by the government.

LIE #1 – Electric Transportation

In order to save our planet we must use “electric/mass-transit” transportation.

Governmental overreach initiates tax hikes on fuels. A basic “strong-arm”, budget-enforced isolation move. “If they can’t afford gas then we can make them quit driving.”

Pros

Less pollution (except when you look at the battery manufacturing & disposal)

Cons

Expensive electrical grid improvements
Expensive initial vehicle purchase
The battery is hazardous materials, with short charge life, costly to replace
Wheels are low mileage, high-cost replacement

This is not possible until we build a grid capable of supporting increased demand and recharging stations across the nation.

LIE #2 – Windmills/Solar Panels/Water

We can save the planet using Wind/Solar/Water alternative energies.

Sounds great until you look at what these alternative systems can supply along with what they require in real life. “We will outlaw fossil fuels and only allow alternate energies to force them to stop using fossil fuels.”

Pros

Wind, solar, and water are renewable sources

Cons

Wind/Solar/Water inadequate or sporadic (weather)
Wind/Solar/Water decreased performance
Wind/Solar/Water parts are rarely recyclable
Windmills are an expensive initial purchase
Wind turbines kill birds
Wind vane high-cost replacement and hazardous materials
Solar panel high-cost replacement and hazardous materials
Water damns affect migrating salmon

Manipulation by lawmakers is a crime, it is a dictatorship. Passing laws without constituent approval, that severely limits travel ability, but have no effect on a politician’s chosen mode of travel is wrong.

It really bugs me when I see the smiling fools in Washington DC hop onto a jet plane, helicopter, or limousine for another vacation or night out that is paid for by our tax dollars. They do not stand at the pump and pay upwards of $5 per gallon for their limo fuel, we pay for that fuel too.

Freedom Index 118-1

A Freedom Index?

Don’t be an ostrich with your head stuck in the sand. Stay abreast of what our elected officials are up to.

The John Birch Society

Thanks to JBS, we are able to understand what the heck they are doing there in Washington D.C. No need to hide from the truth anymore. Go ahead and pull your head out of the sand. Read all about The Freedom Index online here.

“The New American magazine has just released its first Freedom Index and Congressional Scorecards for the (current) 118th Congress. These scorecards rate members of Congress on how faithfully they are upholding their solemn oath “to support this Constitution.”

Also, don’t forget our state Legislative Scorecards, which rate state legislators from all 50 states on their adherence to the U.S. Constitution and limited-government principles.”

These are gems of information about exactly what our elected officials do. Real good information. Washington officials have a really low grade. Patty Murry was 100% anti-constitutional across-the-board scores with her voting record. NOT someone I want to vote for!

It is just so amazing to me how disinterested in public opinion and constituent desires our politicians are. They are out there doing their own thing on our tax dollars and think they are entitled. Hoping for HONEST elections and a new soup broth in our government stewpot before everything in the United States is ruined.