Jon T. Haugen for Senate, 18th District (D)
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Cut Taxes:
Property Taxes: They are out of control. I fought the Clark County
Assessors’ Office and won. I had my property taxes reduced by $68,000.
I want to use that knowledge to help change the system for those that do
not have the skill or time to fight against the county.
I challenged Clark County Assessment and had my taxes reduced by
$68,000, let me fight for you! Please see the article below.
I have submitted Initiative to the People 997
Initiative Measure No. 997 concerns valuation of single-family residences
for property tax purposes. I have spoken with Tim Eyman about this idea
and discussed the uniformity clause of the Washington State Constitution.
This measure would limit tax valuation of single-family residences to the
assessed value on December 31, 2005, adjusted annually for inflation but
not greater than two percent higher than the previous year’s valuation.
Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]
We send enough money to Olympia. We must change the way in which
this money is spent.
My 'English Only' stance is one part of this change. The state should
spend no money on translation to any other language for any document.
Those here legally must learn English.
Illegal Aliens. We must make Washington State inhospitable to illegal
aliens. They are breaking the law. Businesses that employ illegal aliens
must pay fines and be punished by losing their business license. Without
jobs available illegal aliens will 'self deport' out of Washington State.
ICE (Immigrations & Customs Enforcement) training under Section 287(g),
would permit state and local law enforcement officers to perform
immigration law enforcement functions.
I would support law similar to Arizona House Bill 2779 "Fair and legal
employment act" which prohibits employers from knowingly hiring
undocumented workers. Employing illegal immigrants, a business could
lose its license for up to 10 days and placed on three-year probation. If
caught with a second offense while on probation, a business will
permanently lose its license.
Illegal Alien uninsured children amount to over 10,000. No health
insurance should be provided. This would save over $25 million.
Money previously spent on illegal aliens for education, housing, medical
care can then be spent on education reducing everyone's property taxes.
Washington is one of only five states (Maine, Hawaii, Utah and New
Mexico) to allow illegal aliens a driving license. I will introduce legislation
to remove Washington from this gang of five.
We need to look at Arizona Proposition 200, that barred social services to
illegal immigrants.
Excerpt:
Sunday, October 28, 2007
BY CAMI JONER, Columbian staff writer
Jon Haugen was among thousands of homeowners shocked last year by
dramatically higher real estate property tax assessments from the Clark
County Assessor. Unlike most, Haugen's assessment went up even more
when he challenged the figure.
The Vancouver home he paid $349,000 for in 2001 was assessed at
$515,000 in 2006. Haugen figured it was a mistake when he looked up
the assessments of his next-door neighbors. Two similar houses in size
and value that flank Haugen's family home were assessed at $447,200
and $471,400, respectively.
Haugen's experience may well be worth studying, as the county prepares
to mail property value statements for 2007 next month.
Property owners will, on average, see a 12 percent increase in this year's
assessments, a result of "an increase in (sales) values," said Clark
County Assessor Linda Franklin.
Haugen case
In Haugen's case last year, one neighbor's assessed value had increased
by 35 percent and the other by 40 percent, while his home's value jumped
68 percent. "It just didn't seem right," said Haugen.
But while the board has ruled to sustain the assessed values of most
petitioners this year, it increased the assessment of Haugen's home by
$68,000, bringing his total value to $583,000.
Regardless, Franklin doesn't agree with increasing a petitioner's value,
such as what happened to Jon Haugen.
"We don't believe it's good practice to penalize the people who question
us," she said.
Haugen feels that's what happened to him, though he was not present at
the board's July 15 hearing of his petition. He says he did not receive
written notice until after the hearing had been held.
"I got a letter in August saying, 'We had the meeting and you were not in
attendance.' Then they slapped me with another $68,000 of assessment
just to add insult to injury," Haugen said.
He paid $51 more for a total of $5,847 on his 2007 property taxes, up from
last year's bill of $5,796.
He has also filed a petition with the state board of tax appeals, the next
step for those who question the board of equalization's findings.
"We're the end of the line for informal appeals," said Stephen Saynisch,
the state board's executive director.
Petitioners carry the burden of proof in the state appeals process.
"The assessor walks into these hearings with the presumption of
correctness. That's sometimes disconcerting to taxpayers," Saynisch said.
Haugen said he's optimistic the state board will reduce his assessed
value to correspond with his neighbors' 35 percent to 40 percent value
increases.
He has not hired a lawyer and does not think he'll need one.
"If it's adjudicated in the light of day with all the facts, they're going to
agree with me," Haugen said, adding, "I place great trust in the justice of
America."