PUYALLUP: Cost goes up with property valuation

Re: “Passing bond is a good investment” (letter, 9-11).

God bless the letter writer for her zeal in promoting the Nov. 3 Puyallup School District bond election (letter, 9-11). Her love for Puyallup’s schoolchildren is obvious. I applaud her.

However, her example that the owner of a $250,000 home would pay only about $5 more in taxes per year to the district would be correct only if that home’s value doesn’t change over time.

This year I paid the district $212.38 more in taxes than I did last year on a property valuation of $185,700. The district’s “Connections” newsletter said the current rate charged by the district per thousand of assessed valuation is $6.50. It estimates that the rate would only increase by two cents, to $6.52 if the bond passes.

If my home’s value remained at $185,700, I’d only pay $4.23 more to the district next year. But my property increased in value by $23,500, to a total of $209,200.

If the bond passes, I’d pay $157.45 more in taxes to the district in 2016, not $4.23. The district’s estimated rate of $6.52 per $1,000 ould apply to my entire $209,200 valuation, not just the $23,500 increase in valuation.

As always, the facts help the voter to be informed.

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 12:05 PM with the headline "PUYALLUP: Cost goes up with property valuation."