I have already spoken with John Kulseth and Alan Lichter regarding my property valuation for 2009, which increased by $100,000, or nearly 40 percent. Obviously, economic times are tough for us all. I own a small yarn store on Orcas Island and business is down. I can barely pay my rent, nor all of my other expenses, and every month I fight to get my mortgage payment in on time. I cannot afford gas for my car, I cannot afford to go off-island for groceries (but I cannot afford to buy them here, either). I grow what vegetables I can, and we make do as best we can.

In light of these circumstances that we all are faced with, how dare you choose this time to increase our property taxes this much? Mine will increase by more than $500 next year. What do you expect will happen to those of us who can’t pay? We will lose our homes, our businesses will fail, and we will be forced to move off our beloved island. Although I have been assured that this has not been done because the county/state wants more money, I can’t come to any other conclusion. John Kulseth advises that the appraiser’s job has always been to value properties at their market value. However, this has never been the case with my property. Historically properties have never been appraised at current market value, here or elsewhere in the country. Why now? Because our government, which is already sucking us dry, wants more money.

I encourage everyone who owns property to email the assessor at assessor@sanjuanco.com and Alan Lichter at alanl@co.san-juan.wa.us with your complaint.

Cheryl Jackson

Eastsound