LETTER TO THE EDITOR | And treasurer’s office calls it a “tax supplement”

Editor, I appreciated your recent article on my taxation frustration. The King 5 news follow-up sheds further light on Island County’s long-standing practice of waiting for years to post taxes levied. Others need to come forward and tell their story. In my case, those taxes were levied against the previous owner as a result of a court conviction against her. In 2009 the Island County Assessors Office sent the previous owner her tax bill. She chose to ignore the bill and failed to reveal those taxes on her seller’s disclosure statement. Fast forward to Dec. 26, 2014, the Island County Treasurers Office finally gets around to posting the tax and adds on penalties and interest. And they call it a “tax supplement.”

February 11, 2015 10:00 am

Editor,

I appreciated your recent article on my taxation frustration. The King 5 news follow-up sheds further light on Island County’s long-standing practice of waiting for years to post taxes levied. Others need to come forward and tell their story.

In my case, those taxes were levied against the previous owner as a result of a court conviction against her. In 2009 the Island County Assessors Office sent the previous owner her tax bill. She chose to ignore the bill and failed to reveal those taxes on her seller’s disclosure statement. Fast forward to Dec. 26, 2014, the Island County Treasurers Office finally gets around to posting the tax and adds on penalties and interest. And they call it a “tax supplement.”

I have yet to hear from Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks for his legal opinion. His tight-lipped strategy appears flawed. Does he really want another lawsuit?

Ironically, the Island County Treasurer’s Office has posted on their website a need for volunteers to help with their backlog. I’m retired. I got time.

WILLIAM GOETZ

Freeland