After a number of years of turmoil within the King County Assessor’s Workplace, voters have an opportunity to revive stability and professionalism to the workplace. Three candidates are vying to interchange Assessor John A. Wilson, who determined to not search reelection after he was charged with stalking a former fiancé. These expenses had been later dismissed.
Chief Deputy Assessor Al Dams, who’s a candidate for the seat, mentioned he managed the workplace throughout Wilson’s authorized disaster. He ought to be recommended for his management throughout that interval.
However candidate Rob Foxcurran is finest positioned to convey a contemporary perspective to the workplace and lead it long-term.
At the moment a senior adjuster for town of Seattle, he has labored as an adjuster within the personal sector as effectively. That ability set would doubtlessly profit business and residential property house owners alike.
For the previous three years, Foxcurran additionally has served on the King County Board of Appeals and Equalization as a listening to examiner. In that position he adjudicates appeals involving the Division of Assessments’ property valuation. He has help from unions and company business property house owners.
“King County at the moment ranks close to the underside nationally in business property tax equity, and when the wealthiest companies aren’t paying their share, that burden shifts immediately onto everybody else’s shoulders,” Foxcurran mentioned.
Foxcurran was crucial of King County’s pandemic-era buy of a number of lodges to offer short-term housing for folks experiencing homelessness. In some instances the county paid greater than 70% above the assessed worth of the buildings, a few of which required main enhancements.
“This factors to an essential half if not an important a part of the assessor’s workplace and that’s accuracy in valuations,” Foxcurran mentioned. “Accuracy is equity is fairness. If values are correct all people is paying their justifiable share, no extra, no much less.”
Though assessors don’t set tax charges, Foxcurran mentioned as county assessor he would use his platform to advocate for fairer property tax buildings in Olympia. He has pushed for the state to create a homestead safety for householders’ major residences, very like different states. He mentioned he additionally would advocate to create a tax credit for low-income renters.
Additionally within the race for assessor is Shoreline Metropolis Councilmember Christopher Roberts. He, too, mentioned he would work with the Legislature to advance a homestead exemption and would champion transparency within the workplace.
Nonetheless, contemplating Foxcurran’s expertise in value determinations in business and residential properties and the evaluation appeals course of, his visionary method to the workplace is a more sensible choice for King County voters.
