Open space: County's process for classifications is flawed

For years, Wahkiakum County land owners have taken advantage of a state program that gives property tax payers a break if they commit to leave large parcels of land in either timber or agricultural use.

However, during a recent review of the county assessor's office, state Department of Revenue personnel said the county's process for putting parcels into the open space program is flawed and may have incorrectly awarded many open space classifications.

The officials have urged Assessor Bill Coons to seek a new county ordinance to define the process and also to set up a process to review open space exemptions and notify taxpayers if their land is incorrectly classified open space.

Coons said state law (RCW 84.34.055) provides a 30-day period for landowners to seek a reclassification of their land and avoid paying any compensating tax.

State law provides that if a parcel is incorrectly classified, the assessor must calculate a tax bill based on land values of the previous seven years and collect that from the landowner.

The county also needs to be scheduling public hearings to discuss and act on open space applications, Coons said, and this isn't being done. For several years, the applications have been included in the consent agenda, a grouping of minor business items that are approved without discussion.

Further, he said, the commission needs to create and adopt a public benefit rating system for proposed open space parcels.

If a parcel has sufficient public benefit, it can go into the program. Public benefit could range from providing a buffer zone to providing public access to the land for recreational use.

Coons said 139 parcels with 2,800 acres are included in the county's open space farm and agricultural program. They have a land value of $2 million and are assessed $358,000.

Commissioners said they wanted more information to understand better what they needed to do.

Clerk Marsha LaFarge suggested referring the matter to the county planning commission to create the public benefit rating system.

Coons, however, noted that Department of Revenue personnel would be in the county next week, and they have offered to talk to elected officials about the issue.

Commission Chair Lisa Marsyla then suggested holding a workshop meeting with the officials to discuss the situation, and colleagues Dan Cothren and Blair Brady agreed.

Coons added that for now, the commission could simply comply with the law by scheduling public hearings for open space applications.