Software delays tax statements

Owners of property in Wahkiakum County didn't receive their "Valentine's Day" mailing from the county treasurer this year.

Those mailings, the annual property tax statements, have been delayed as county offices install a new computer program.

"Normally, tax statements are in the mail February 15th," Treasurer Paula Holloway said this week. "We are looking to mail statements the week of March 8th. First half taxes are still due April 30th.

"If a taxpayer needs to know their taxes due, they can call our office at 795-8005, and we can tell them the 2010 tax amount."

The offices of the treasurer and assessor are installing a new software program to integrate the assessment and billing process. It will help the assessor implement an annual revaluation, instead of the current four-year cycle.

New tax software company is True Automation, Inc., from Plano, Tex., Holloway said. Other counties they service are Whatcom, Skagit, Chelan, San Juan, Pend Orielle, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, and Garfield.

"Our current tax software company, Compu-Tech of Wenatchee, last year gave us notice they were discontinuing their support for their tax software," she said. "The State of Washington created a grant account that we can access up to $100,000 to defer the cost of this project."

"We also have a fund at the county level called REET Technology in which there is enough money collected to fund the rest of the project."

There will be no impact to the strapped Current Expense Fund because of the funding package, Holloway said.

Questions regarding tax assessments need to go to the county assessor at 795-3791.