Experience needed in assessor's office

To The Eagle:

I have lived in Wahkiakum County for 50 years. I worked in the assessor’s office for almost 10 years appraising timber and real property. I am now a board member on the Board of Equalization and have been for 10 years. The Board of Equalization is an appeals board for the assessor’s values. Normally the board hears 10-12 appeals most years. The previous assessor had 168 appeals in her last as assessor. She had no experience in property valuation. The board also had to revalue Puget Island land values.

Bill Coons has done a good job as assessor. Bill is actually overqualified for the job. We are fortunate to have him as assessor.

I owned a good 0.15 acre building site by the golf course. The previous assessor valued the site at almost $90,000, even though there was a similar site nearby for sale for $45,000. I appealed to the State Board of Equalization, which lowered the value to $60,000. I felt that value was still too high. When Bill Coons became assessor he lowered the value to $45,000 with no push from me. The property sold for $45,000.

Please do not change assessors. As the saying goes, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Patrick Dennis

Cathlamet