Someone in your back yard? King County assessors are working in west Shoreline

King County Assessors working in Richmond Beach, west side Shoreline neighborhoods through spring

By Susan Will, Richmond Beach Community News Editor

Just as it is always good to check out suspicious activity in your neighborhood, it is a relief when it turns out to be nothing nefarious. Fortunately that was the case recently when folks in Richmond Beach and Innis Arden learned that people checking out their houses work for King County.

Now through May 2016, staff from King County Department of Assessments are inspecting residential property on the west side of Shoreline (from west of Aurora to the water) to update property values.

Every property in King County receives a physical inspection to update its value at least once in each six-year revaluation cycle. Those areas not inspected in a given year have their values updated statistically.

The physical inspection confirms property characteristics, so appraisers are looking to ensure that all data on each property is accurate. Last year central Shoreline was inspected and properties on the east side of Shoreline will be inspected in 2017. Residential properties on the west side of Shoreline were last appraised in 2011.

According to the Department of Assessments, during physical inspections of an area, you may see appraisers:

• Driving slowly along residential streets;
• Parking and walking along residential streets;
• Doing physical inspections of the front and rear of residences, including measurements;
• Taking photographs of residences; and
• Knocking on doors to speak to residents if the appraisers have questions about changes to or features of the property.

The five appraisers working in Shoreline carry King County identification and show it when introducing themselves to residents. They may be driving either King County or personal vehicles and work Monday through Friday during daylight hours.

Shoreline Police have descriptions of the employees and their personal vehicles including license plate numbers. To verify an appraiser's identification, contact the Department of Assessments at 206-296-7300, assessor.info@kingcounty.gov or Shoreline Police at 206-296-3311.

Also contact the Assessor’s Office if you have other questions or feel it has made an error in the characteristics of your property. You can request that the data be reviewed or explained by an appraiser and an Assessment Review can be initiated.

Note that the Department of Assessments does not set, collect or distribute property taxes. Each year, property taxes are determined by a combination of state and local government (schools, roads, parks, libraries, hospitals, city and county government), and your local taxing districts such as ports, fire districts, utility and sewer districts. The King County Treasury’s Office collects and distributes property tax revenue to state and local governments.

View more information about property assessments on the Department of Assessments website. More information about property tax here.