County indicated ratio—Determination by department—Submission of preliminary ratio to assessor—Rules—Use classes—Review of preliminary ratio—Certification—Examination of assessment procedures—Adjustment of ratio.
(1) The department of revenue shall annually, prior to the first Monday in September, determine and submit to each assessor a preliminary indicated ratio for each county: PROVIDED, That the department shall establish rules and regulations pertinent to the determination of the indicated ratio, the indicated real property ratio and the indicated personal property ratio: PROVIDED FURTHER, That these rules and regulations may provide that data, as is necessary for said determination, which is available from the county assessor of any county and which has been audited as to its validity by the department, shall be utilized by the department in determining the indicated ratio.
(2) To such extent as is reasonable, the department may define use classes of property for the purposes of determination of the indicated ratio. Such use classes may be defined with respect to property use and may include agricultural, open space, timber and forestlands.
(3) The department shall review each county's preliminary ratio with the assessor, a landowner, or an owner of an intercounty public utility or private car company of that county, if requested by the assessor, a landowner, or an owner of an intercounty public utility or private car company of that county, respectively, between the first and third Mondays of September. Prior to equalization of assessments pursuant to RCW 84.48.080 and after the third Monday of September, the department shall certify to each county assessor the real and personal property ratio for that county.
(4) The department of revenue shall also examine procedures used by the assessor to assess real and personal property in the county, including calculations, use of prescribed value schedules, and efforts to locate all taxable property in the county. If any examination by the department discloses other than market value is being listed on the county assessment rolls of the county by the assessor and, after due notification by the department, is not corrected, the department of revenue shall, in accordance with rules adopted by the department, adjust the ratio of that type of property, which adjustment shall be used for determining the county's indicated ratio.
[ 2001 c 187 s 24; 1997 c 3 s 111 (Referendum Bill No. 47, approved November 4, 1997); 1988 c 222 s 23; 1982 1st ex.s. c 46 s 7; 1977 ex.s. c 284 s 3.]
NOTES:
Contingent effective date—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.70.010.
Application—2001 c 187: See note following RCW 84.40.020.
Application—Severability—Part headings not law—Referral to electorate—1997 c 3: See notes following RCW 84.40.030.
Purpose—Intent—1977 ex.s. c 284: "It is the intent of the legislature that the methodology used in the equalization of property values for the purposes of the state levy, public utility assessment, and other purposes, shall be designed to ensure uniformity and equity in taxation throughout the state to the maximum extent possible.
It is the purpose of this 1977 amendatory act to provide certain guidelines for the determination of the ratio of assessed value to the full true and fair value of the general property in each county." [ 1977 ex.s. c 284 s 1.]