Clark County assessor briefs Vancouver council on property-tax exemption for seniors and people with disabilities

Holly Hill, program outreach coordinator for the Clark County Assessor's Office, briefed the Vancouver City Council on May 5 about the state property-tax exemption program for seniors and people with disabilities, describing qualifications, documentation requirements, and upcoming outreach events.

Hill said the program is administered by the county assessor under rules set by the Washington State Legislature and with guidance from the Washington State Department of Revenue. Among the program details Hill provided: qualifying applicants must own and occupy the home as their primary residence and meet age (61+) or disability criteria; the program freezes assessed value in the year a household qualifies; applicants are exempt from excess voted levies and special assessments; and applications may be renewed at intervals up to every six years.

On income, Hill said the program’s threshold is $62,000 for Clark County — described in the briefing as 70 percent of the county median income — and that the program uses three income tiers to determine the percentage of assessed value exempted. She explained examples of allowed deductions (out-of-pocket health insurance cost-sharing, Medicare premiums, in-home care expenses and certain mobility aids) and noted applicants must provide tax returns, 1099s or other documentation. Hill described a recent legislative change to allow certain accessory dwelling units and previously nonqualifying outbuildings to be included in the exemption when applicable.

Hill detailed outreach: appointments and walk-ins will be available in Vancouver May 23 at the Loopke Center, 1009 E. McLaughlin Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and June 6 at the Evergreen Public Schools Administrative Building, 13413 NE Leroy Hoggins Memorial Drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. She provided a contact phone number for the assessor’s office: (564) 397-2391 and said applicants can apply online or submit paperwork in person.

The city manager told the council the city has over 3,500 people currently enrolled in the program. Councilor Sarah Fox asked how often the income threshold is updated; Hill said the statute directs the threshold be reviewed and readjusted every three years to align with the county median-income ratio. Hill summarized: “we administer a really wonderful program,” and encouraged residents to contact the assessor’s office for help with applications or special cases.

Questions from councilors during the meeting were limited to the update frequency and administrative clarifications; no council action was taken during the briefing. The assessor’s office listed documentation and deduction examples for residents who may be near the income thresholds.