Proud homeowners over in Spokane have been gleefully enjoying price increases similar to those in Seattle the last few years, and now the local government is gleefully cashing in.
The Spokane County assessor’s office mailed notices this week to the owners of 176,000 parcels that the worth of their property has changed, mostly upward. Values increased an average of 16.2 percent across the county.
The increase followed last year’s surge of 15.1 percent in property taxes.
“We’ve had a very, very vibrant real estate market,” said Spokane County Assessor Ralph Baker. “This year, I think, will go down as an extraordinary year.”
The local numbers are comparable to price increases throughout the Northwest.
So let’s see if I can make a list of all the people that think it’s just extraordinary when housing prices soar (even while wages are flat). County & city government officials, homeowners, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and Elizabeth Rhodes. Did I miss anyone?
(Associated Press, Seattle P-I, 06.02.2006)