Whitman County assessor explains sharp reassessments in Pullman; residents press for relief

Whitman County Assessor Raylene Flodine told the Pullman City Council on April 22 that the county has started a multi‑year effort to bring property assessments up to current market levels after years in which statistical updates were not performed consistently.

Flodine said the assessor’s office found Pullman market values had risen sharply while portions of Pullman had not been statistically updated, producing large differences in assessed values that are now being corrected. “We looked at the entire county, noticed that the entire county needed at the very least a 15% increase,” Flodine said. She added the office is now aiming for about an 85% ratio of assessed value to market value going forward.

Why it matters: property taxes are calculated by applying levy rates for multiple taxing districts to assessed values. Rapid assessment increases can translate into steep tax bills for homeowners even when levy rates fall, council members and residents warned.

Flodine said the county’s previous six‑year revaluation plan had split Pullman so parts were inspected in different years; her office rewrote that plan and in 2025 is updating Pullman in a single cycle to avoid the split. She described four broad options the Department of Revenue and the county Board of Equalization considered for addressing long‑running mismatches, and said the board opted not to re‑open past tax years because redoing a tax year would require an extensive temporary expansion of staff and would be costly.

Residents detailed the effect on households. John Swenson, a Pullman resident, cited Washington statutes requiring property to be valued at 100% of market and county assessors to maintain continuous revaluation, saying the split revaluation had placed an “undue tax burden” on Pullman homeowners. Natalie Heron, who said her taxes approximately doubled since purchase in 2022, and Sheree Collins, who described a six‑figure assessment disparity with nearby homes, asked how homeowners can respond.

Flodine said change‑of‑value notices are the opportunity for owners to contest or provide additional evidence. “They have 30 days from the date of notice. They can come in and talk to us if we have made a scrivener’s error or they feel that it is just extremely high,” she said. The assessor’s office also said it accepts fee appraisals and will honor them where appropriate.

Flodine described the assessor office’s limited staffing: two accredited real property appraisers, one GIS technician, a segregation clerk who handles sales processing and boundary adjustments, and a part‑time administrative assistant. She said the office is increasing outreach and has been promoting the senior exemption program at senior lunches and community events.

On exemptions and relief: Flodine said the county’s senior/disabled/veteran exemption program is available to qualifying residents and that qualifying preserves a frozen property value while the owner remains in the program. She gave eligibility details: applicants must be 61 or older (one spouse may be younger if meeting other criteria), and income thresholds are set by state ratios; the assessor said the local threshold recently adjusted (example cited: roughly $40,400). The assessor said staff will help applicants complete forms and accept mailed, emailed or in‑person submissions.

Council members pressed for clearer advance warning about large neighborhood spikes and asked whether other Washington counties face similar backlogs. Flodine said other counties—including neighboring Asotin and larger counties—have seen similar problems and that Benton County previously raised its assessment ratio toward market to reduce disparities. She said the county intends to keep up with market changes going forward by combining physical inspections on a six‑year cycle with annual statistical updates.

What residents can do next: homeowners who receive change‑of‑value notices should review them promptly and, if they disagree, bring appraisals or income documentation (for rental properties) to the assessor’s office during the 30‑day notice period. Flodine also encouraged eligible seniors, disabled residents and certain veterans to seek the exemption forms on the assessor’s website or by calling the office for help.

Ending note: Council members said they will share county guidance and encourage residents to contact the assessor’s office, and some asked the city to help spread information about exemptions and appeal steps.