Transparency in Taxation initiative
From Sunshine Review
The Transparency in Taxation initiative was unanimously approved by the King County City Council on July 9, 2007. Sponsored by council member Reagan Dunn, the initiative requires the county treasurer to mail a breakdown of property taxes to all property owners.
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[edit] "A very simply premise"
Before the passing of the initiative, nearly 45% of property owners in King County authorized their mortgage company to pay their property tax. However, in doing so the property owner never received a statement for their taxes.
In pushing for the legislation, council member Dunn stated, “It is a very simple premise: property owners deserve to know where their money goes. Nearly half of the property owners in King County do not receive a summary of where their property taxes go. If we want voters to make informed decisions on how to spend their money, the first step is letting them see how their entire tax bill breaks down.”[1]
[edit] Breakdown of Taxes
By March 15 of every year the county treasurer is required to send out the property tax breakdown. While some details were left up to the treasury operation section of finance and business operations, the statement must include the following:
- Amount of current tax year billing information
- Current billing distribution of the current year taxes, this includes:
- State taxes
- Local school support
- County taxes
- City taxes
- Unincorporated road taxes
- Port taxes
- Fire taxes
- Sewer and water taxes
- Library taxes
- Other
- Emergency medical services
- Any delinquent tax information
