Tax shift

Did you look at your property tax statements, and notice your county road tax, etc. increased?

They did – minimally, because 931 Shelter Bay parcels were removed from the county property tax rolls, as the non-payors “revenue” was “shifted” to the payors!

Most people believe the removal of tax parcels from county tax rolls reduces the amount of taxes collected by the various governments involved: Not so, each taxing bodies submits annual budgets to the county, and the county collects that revenue from remaining payors to fund the service of the respective taxing districts!

La Conner School District taxpayers experienced a major increase in their school, regional library, fire, and Port of Anacortes, etc. property taxes when 931 Shelter Bay parcels were removed from the county tax rolls in 2014. Similarly, Port of Anacortes, fire, and county road taxes increased for those outside the La Conner School District.

The County road tax is a county-wide tax; thus, the lost road revenue from the 931 Shelter Bay tax parcels was “shifted” to Skagit County property tax payers; you and me.

Point: Whenever government buys land, or land goes off the tax rolls; there’s a “tax shift” that affects remaining taxpayers.

Roger Pederson

Bay View