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  1. I believe home prices are wrongly inflated.
    Where is the proof that homes are worth that amount? That is not friendly to retired senior citizens. It is obviously a ploy to increase value to make home owners pay increasing taxes. What we get in return is not equal to what we pay to the city, county and state. It’s never ending. Seniors can pay off the mortgage but that taxes never are reduced.

    1. Sylvia, you are absolutely right. The recent rezoning rammed through the city council by the city staff will raise land valuations even higher. Tax assessments are based on the highest and best use of the zoning applied to the land. So if you have a single family home on a 7,000 sq ft lot that is now zoned for 3,500 sq ft lots with up 6-7 units per lot you assessed value for land will skyrocket even if it is not feasible due to other code restrictions. The new zoning FAR exceeds what is required by the new state law. It is a tax grab disguised as affordable housing. Pay very close attention in the November City Council Elections. All the incumbent council members running for re-election (who are currently leading in the primary) with one exception (Mora), supported the rezoning. These council members and candidates are funded largely by external sources outside the city as they push their radical socialist agenda. They have no idea what they are doing and are going to be the ruin of Burien if left unchecked.

    2. Home assessments are made by the county and are based upon sales of similar homes, so the homes are worth what other people will pay for them. This is a lagging indicator in that the assessor can’t keep up with current sales. In a time of rising home prices, the assessments tend to lag what you could get if you sold your house. If the market falls, assessments tend to be higher. Over time this effect negates itself. There is no ploy here, it’s the free market in operation. And everyone loves the free market, right?

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