Letters to the Editor

Sales impact value

Editor, the Journal,

An informational response to Davis Zanot’s letter to the editor in the April 25 Journal.

The Assessor’s Office is responsible for valuing all taxable property at 100% of its true and fair market value according to the highest and best use of the property, as mandated by state law. It’s important to note, however, that the Assessor’s Office does not set the market but interprets these market transactions, often set by Realtors in which both sellers and buyers agree.

Values are adjusted annually based upon sales of similar properties; the 2024 assessment represents value, as of Jan. 1, 2023, which was based on 2022 and prior sales data. It is generally believed that property taxes are like sales taxes, and any percentage increase in assessed value creates a similar percentage increase in property taxes. A 10% increase in assessed value is not equal to a 10% increase in tax. It is important to understand that the assessment is a direct result of market transactions that have taken place and serves as a leveling mechanism for property-tax distribution to fund government services such as police and fire services, education and health services, libraries, road maintenance, and other programs and projects that benefit the community at large.

Washington offers a property-tax exemption if you meet certain criteria based on age or disability, ownership, residency and income. To qualify, you must be at least 61, retired from regular employment due to a disability, or a veteran of the armed forces with a disability rating of 80% or higher, and own/occupy the residence with a combined disposable income of $55,000 or less (SHB 1355). Applications are available at our office, on our website, or may be mailed upon request.

The Assessor’s Office does not negotiate value but calculates value according to the property information on record and sales data. To generate a fair and equitable value, accurate property information is essential. If you have questions or concerns about your value, please contact the Assessor’s Office at 360-427-9670, ext. 491.

Ciara Stiles, Mason County Assessor’s Office, Shelton

Where’s Kilmer? 

Editor, the Journal,

So where is our Rep. Derek Kilmer?  We have a federal Post Office and a local community issue. We have years of community history vs. a new parking lot. Some politicians seek to find workable solutions. 

Where is our representative that can find a solution for both sides? Why was he voted in, and what has he done for our community?  Has he retired already?

Jim Amador, Shelton

Lions’ thank you

Editor, the Journal,

The Belfair Masons who meet at the hall of Hood Canal Lodge hosted the 71st annual Easter dinner on Sunday March 31. They have held this annual dinner every year since 1951 and it’s open to the public. The only years this dinner has not been held were the periods not allowed by COVID. They would like to thank the North Mason businesses and families who donated money which was converted to dinner tickets. These tickets were passed on to North Mason Food Bank. Tickets were then given to people in need to attend the dinner.

The donors are as follows: 

Cascade Floral Products; North Mason Fiber; Les Schwab Tire; Belfair Bob’s Locksmith; Scott McLendon’s Hardware; Olympia Federal Savings; Edward Jones Financial; Barbara Huson (Reid Realty); Peggy Huson; Andy and Pam Withers; Dan and Vicki Voorhees; Jimmy and Kaylene Johnson; and Bill Crockett.

Peninsula Topsoil & Landscape, Belfair Landing and Reid Realty were kind enough to provide advertising on their digital signs to promote the dinner.

Darold Ison, Shelton

A plastic matter

Editor, the Journal,

I went to the store to pick up some items, and since I only needed a few things I used one of the  plastic  baskets they provide to put them in. I grabbed a plastic bottle of peanut butter, a plastic jar of mayonnaise, a plastic bottle of ketchup, a plastic bottle of mustard, a plastic half-gallon jug of milk and some hotdog buns wrapped in a plastic bag.

At the checkout stand I was told that I needed to supply my own carry-out bag to carry these items in as they were not allowed to provide plastic bags. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t seem to find the logic here.

 Jim Killoran, Shelton

It’s about time

Editor, the Journal,

In response to Barbara Lyons’ letter of April 18:

Maybe Washington voted to “ditch the switch” to abolish the ritual of moving the hands on the clock twice a year.

However, under the Uniform Time Act, federal law prohibits states from switching to permanent daylight stealing time.

That needs an act of Congress.

In 2019, King Jay Inslee signed a bill to stay permanent daylight stealing time, giving Washington’s sovereignty to Congress to decide our fate.

Most people I know prefer to stay Pacific Standard Time and stop springing those clocks forward every March. We hope the next legislative session will pass SB 5795 and put a permanent stop to this madness.

We would not be having this conversation of daylight stealing if Congress had just left switching the clock alone in 2005. Before the Energy Protection Act, we would spring the clocks forward in April. Nobody cared. The days were naturally getting longer and the switch coincided with the rising of the sun. No morning sunrise was stolen.

The Bush administration decided it would save some energy and changed the clock switching to March.

That was a big mistake. Switching the clock back into darkness messes with people’s circadian rhythm and causes all those issues we hear about. Traffic accidents, stroke, heart attack, sadness, depression, sleep disorders and suicide.

Have you felt it lately? The better mood? That’s because we’re finally getting away from the effects of the switch. It takes the entire month, not just that one night everyone talks about.

Perhaps people that are not up and out of bed early ever see a sunrise and don’t know how extremely important it is having that daylight stolen away for a month.

The thief doesn’t care about who they steal from. They steal without regard for safety or well-being. Yet, the ritual of clock switching continues. I would challenge whether our state law is even legal to spring forward knowing what they know now about the negative health and safety impacts it has on people.

Washington is Pacific Standard Time. So is British Columbia, parts of Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, California and parts of Mexico.

What everyone really wants is to “ditch the switch.” 

In response to Barbara Lyons’ comments:

We need consistency and predictability. Staying Pacific Standard Time year-round will give everyone ample opportunity to enjoy the day.

Mary Ogg, Shelton