Property owners in King County will soon receive a detailed breakdown of their property taxes mailed to their homes as the Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously adopted the “Transparency in Taxation” initiative introduced by Councilmember Reagan Dunn.

“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,” said Dunn. “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.”

Every February, the King County Treasurer currently sends an annual property tax statement to the property owner or to the mortgage company designated to make tax payments on behalf of the owner. The statement is the only piece of information that gives a detailed breakdown of the levies and special districts they are funding.

The property tax statements include a summary of taxes paid to the state, local schools, local cities, county, Port of Seattle, and local fire, sewer and water districts. More than 290,000 property owners—45 percent of those in King County—authorize their mortgage company to make their half-yearly property tax payment out of their escrow accounts, so that they do not receive the summary statement.

Under the legislation approved by the Council, starting in April 2008 the County Treasurer will be required to mail courtesy tax breakdowns to property owners who do not currently receive property tax statements. The summaries will provide a detailed breakdown of the taxes and fees levied on their property, including those approved by voters.

“Up until now, we have been asking King County citizens to pay their property tax bill without showing them what they are paying for,” said Dunn. “Can you imagine paying your cable bill or cell phone bill without seeing a breakdown of the charges? Property owners have a right to this information and it should be a basic service provided to them. This information will help voters more effectively prioritize what services they want their government to provide by understanding what they are already paying for.”

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system.
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