Assessment fees determined by public services

The Jefferson County treasurer’s office collects assessment fees depending on whether properties benefit from any of seven public services.

County Assessor Jeff Chapman explained these assessments to the Jefferson County Commissioners Sept. 16.

In 2001, state voters passed Initiative 747, which reduced the limit of increase on annual property tax from 6% to 1%.

Assessments are billed alongside property taxes, but instead of being charged based on a property’s value, they have a parcel flat rate and a per-acre fee.

Special assessment fees in Jefferson County pay for the clean water district, noxious weed control, the conservation district, the Port Ludlow drainage district, on-site septic systems, the fire protection district and landowners contingency.

Assessments are charged on both public and private land, and the public agencies subject to paying assessment fees include not only Jefferson County, but also the state Departments of Transportation, Natural Resources, and Fish and Wildlife.

While the treasurer collects fees for the benefits provided by the Department of Natural Resources, they are paid out to the state.

Low-income senior citizens, veterans or disabled individuals who have property tax exemptions may also receive exemptions on benefit assessments, and properties tied into the Port Townsend and Port Ludlow sewers are exempt from paying on-site septic.

Comp plan tour set

The City of Port Townsend’s Planning and Community Development Department has organized a “People, Planet and Prosperity Tour,” for the update to its 20-year comprehensive plan, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 5-7:30 p.m.

City officials and staff will conduct a tour of three housing developments and their surrounding environments in Port Townsend, covering how they were built, their development processes, and how they support the “Three Ps” of people, the planet and prosperity.

Participants will need to provide their own transportation to and from the tour stops, and the city encourages carpooling, transit, bicycling and other modes of arrival.

There will also be a quorum of City Council and Planning Commission members present.

The tour will be held rain or shine.

The stops will include Sheridan and 30th streets from 5-5:30 p.m., Rosecrans and 21st streets from 5:45-6:20 p.m., and Nora Porter Loop and Hancock Street from 6:30-7:10 p.m.

For more information, visit pt2045planning.org/get-involved online.

$2.9B more for schools

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal wants a big increase in spending on Washington public schools in the next state budget. The largest amount, about a third, would go to fund special education. The next highest proposed expenditures are $695 million, to retain classified staff with higher pay, and $350 million to cover inflationary costs of materials and supplies. Reykdal sent the proposed budget to Gov. Jay Inslee, who will consider it as part of the overall budget in December. The next governor will have it in place for consideration before it goes to the state Legislature in the 2025 session.