County may trim property tax

"The general Thurston County property tax rate will drop from $1.21 per $1,000 of assessed value this year to $1.04 per $1,000 next year, under a preliminary $269.3 million 2008 budget set for unveiling Monday [Nov. 19].

The lower tax rate is partly the result of the county's decision this month to comply with Gov. Chris Gregoire's request to maintain a 1 percent limit on annual increases in property tax revenue, even though the state Supreme Court overturned Initiative 747, which established the limit.

The lower rate is also the result of an 18.9 percent rise in the assessed value of property in the county this year, which means the tax burden is spread over a larger base," quoting The Olympian.

Further,
"WA GOV CALLS SPECIAL SESSION ON PROPERTY TAXES"
"Gov. Chris Gregoire has called for a one-day special legislative session to reinstate a 1 percent property tax increase cap recently struck down by the state Supreme Court.

Gregoire sent a letter to House and Senate leaders Monday [Nov. 19] night, telling them the Nov. 29 special session is necessary because she is 'very concerned about the effects of the court's decision on the property taxpayers across the state,'" quoting The Olympian.