Yearly assessments needed for true values

To The Eagle:

It is well known that many homes and properties in Wahkiakum and other counties in the state are very much over-assessed. Many homes as much as 30 percent over market value.

Even if they would sell pasture that cannot be developed for reasons such as flooding, water table access, ability etc., and cannot be used for home sites, are assessed sometimes as much as 200 percent of market value. The market is continuing to fall from 1 to 1.5 percent per month and the home and property owners are being billed for values from four to six years ago, when the market was at its peak.

We must get on an annual assessment as soon as possible, so that our assessor can adjust values as the market rises and falls.

Without this, I am very afraid the counties and state could potentially be legally and financially at risk in the event of legal remedy through a lawsuit filed by the home and property owners for the state's and counties' failure to keep the taxes in line with true market value.

Mike Mouliot

Cathlamet