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Clallam County extends assessor customer-service hours for 30 days after public complaints
Summary
The Clallam County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on April 22 to extend the current change to the assessor's customer-service hours for 30 days and return the matter for a broader discussion about courthouse hours after public commenters said reduced access hindered appeals and revenue protection.
The Clallam County Board of Commissioners on April 22 approved a resolution to extend the current change in customer-service hours at the Assessor's Office for 30 days and return the issue for a broader discussion of courthouse hours.
County staff told the board the extension is temporary while commissioners consider a county-wide policy on courthouse open hours and customer service. "We're extending the current situation for 30 days. In the meantime, we're bringing this back for a bigger discussion about setting the overall courthouse hours," staff member Rebecca said during the meeting.
The item drew public comment during the meeting's public-comment period. One resident who did not give their full name told commissioners they had been unable to reach the assessor's office to request an initial consultation after receiving a notice of increased assessed value and, as a result, missed appeal deadlines. The resident said the missed deadlines prevented them from pursuing an appeal this year and urged the board to fix office availability.
Stephanie Days, who identified herself with a partial address for the record, also criticized reduced public hours and said the change made it harder for affected property owners to resolve valuation questions. "We're here to be governed fairly," Days said.
Commissioners included the assessor-hours item on the consent agenda; staff told the board the state auditor's office had recommended reviewing unused petty-cash and similar accounts and that courts set their own hours through the judicial branch, which the county would recognize while discussing courthouse-wide customer-service policies.
The extension is administrative only: the board did not adopt new permanent hours on April 22 and directed staff to return with a fuller proposal. The board approved the consent agenda, which included the assessor-hours resolution, by unanimous voice vote.
The board also scheduled further consideration of courthouse customer-service rules and indicated the matter would return to a future meeting for a fuller public discussion and possible formal adoption of hours.
