Skagit County assessor reviews property tax system, 2024 reinspection and senior exemption outreach

Skagit County Assessor Danny Hagen reviewed how Washington’s budget-based property tax system works, summarized assessed-value changes from the county’s 2024 reinspection of the Anacortes School District, and urged expanded outreach for the state senior- and disabled-person exemption at the March 10 Anacortes City Council meeting.

Hagen said the county’s assessed-value notices, mailed last fall, reflected an average residential value increase of about 6% across the Anacortes School District, with larger increases—near 10%—in northern and central neighborhoods and small declines in some south and non-waterfront areas. Commercial land values rose in parts of Commercial Avenue, he said.

Hagen explained Washington’s budget-based system: taxing districts set budgets (subject to a roughly 1% annual general increase plus new construction) and levy rates float to meet those budgets. He said new-construction growth in Skagit County is modest (1–2.5% in recent years) and that only voter-approved levy lifts allow districts to increase budgets beyond statutory limits.

Hagen described operational steps the assessor’s office took during the reinspection: physical inspections of approximately 13,700 residential parcels and roughly 3,000 commercial/industrial parcels in the Anacortes School District, and use of street-view imagery and Cyclomedia to improve data accuracy and reduce unnecessary door-to-door inspections.

On the senior and disabled exemption program, Hagen said the qualifying income threshold is currently $48,000 (adjusted every three years) and is based on county median household income; he expects the threshold to rise as new data are published and noted legislative interest in further increasing the qualifying percentage. He urged seniors and disabled residents to contact the assessor’s office; he said online pre-filing is available and that the office now has bilingual staff to help outreach to Spanish-speaking residents.

Hagen also described the county’s vertical-equity measurement work and said a Lincoln Institute of Land Policy assessment showed Skagit County performing well on that metric.

Councilmembers asked about medical-expense deductions and practical outreach. Hagen said the assessor’s office can review medical-cost receipts when applicants are near the income threshold and will assist residents through an online portal or in-person help.

The presentation was informational; the council took no vote on the assessor’s remarks.