South King County property owners will see big increase in taxes

Burien, Wash. — Property owners across South King County will be seeing much higher property tax bills in February compared to what they paid in 2016.

Property tax bills will be mailed to residents in mid-February.

Algona property owners will see the largest percentage increase in the total dollars paid compared to the previous year. Normandy Park owners are likely going to pay the biggest dollar difference, where the average homeowner will pay $823 more than last year.

Auburn will see the biggest difference in the tax rate, year over year.

Here are the cities seeing the biggest dollar amount increases:

Most increases seen in south King County are due to ballot measures voters approved in November. The increases come from funding Sound Transit 3, Auburn schools, Highline schools, and local fire districts.

“Taxes are the price of civilized society. We want the school system in the area to be better, we have to pay taxes for it,” said Tyler Kamstra, who recently moved from Seattle to Auburn. “Washington state doesn’t have an income tax, so your options are basically business tax, sales tax, property tax.”

Kamstra takes the train to work in Seattle and has a daughter who will soon attend public schools. So he said he will benefit from the extra taxes paid.

Sydelle Lawrence, who owns a home in Burien, also moved there from Seattle for more affordable housing.

She said she understands taxes are needed to pay for services, but the increase is significant. The average homeowner in Burien will pay $570 more this year.

“That’s a lot in taxes. They should probably cut that in half at least,” Lawrence said.

The city of Burien said more people are moving to the area.

“Yes, more people coming in will increase revenues, but that does increase the amount of services that are needed. And I think what we can say is, there’s still not quite a match,” said Emily Inlow-Hood, a city of Burien spokesperson.

Cox Media Group