Kitsap County Assessor's Newsletter December 2024

Thank you for subscribing to the Assessor’s Office newsletter.  I hope that you are finding it informative and useful.

As 2024 draws to a close, the Assessor's Office would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a prosperous New Year in 2025.

Phil Cook
Kitsap County Assessor

Have you ever wondered how property taxes are determined?

The elected board of each tax district (there are 40 in Kitsap County) holds a public meeting every fall to discuss and approve their next year’s budget.  Regular taxing districts, such as the county, cities, fire districts, ports, and libraries, must approve by resolution or ordinance their budgets, and whether to increase them by 1% without voter approval. Each tax district is required to submit their approved budget documents to the county by November 30^th each year.  In December, the Assessor’s Office uses their approved budget to validate that the district does not exceed any legal limits in place that may restrict the amounts that a district can collect. 

For regular taxing districts, there are four calculations to check for each district.  The lowest of the four calculations is the amount that will be levied on the district’s behalf.  The allowable budget amount is divided by the total assessed value of the tax district area which determines the levy rate needed to collect the requested fund amount.  The Assessor’s Office completes the calculation process in January by extending the levy rate to the properties within the boundaries of each tax district.  The various tax district rates are applied to the assessed value of each taxable property (rate x value /1000).  This determines the property tax amount for an individual property.  The tax statements based on these calculations are sent out by the Treasurer’s Office in mid-February.

Physical inspection update

Our September newsletter shared information regarding the physical inspection areas and why the office must make onsite inspections.  Since that publication, residential appraisers have completed just over 39% of the inspections.  The goal is to complete the work by early April 2025.

If you live in the Port Orchard or North Kitsap inspection areas and are curious where the appraisers are currently working or are wondering if they have already been through your neighborhood, go to the Assessor's website and click on the banner referring to physical inspections in Port Orchard and North Kitsap which will display the inspection status map.

Did you say discount?

Kitsap County offers a discount on their sewer service for homeowners that are on the Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Property Tax Exemption Program.

To find out if you qualify, contact them at 360.337.5777 or utilitybilling@kitsap.gov for additional information. 

Public outreach and presentations

Our next scheduled presentation will be about the Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Property Tax Exemption Program.

Staff will be attending a seminar hosted by Fairway Mortgage located at 1140 Bethel Avenue, Suite 120, Port Orchard, on Thursday, December 12 at noon and will be available to answer your questions. 

If you are interested in attending, you may register using the link below:

December 12 seminar

If you or your organization would like to have representatives from the Assessor’s Office, come and speak, please reach out to the office at:  assessor@kitsap.gov or call 360.337.7160.

Reminder!

Applications for Farm and Forest Land exemptions must be received or postmarked by December 31, to possibly reduce your taxes for 2026.  Go to our website for more information and applications.