White Salmon raises taxes by 1 percent; Increase starts in 2024

Photo courtesy of BRETT STOMPS Windermere Real Estate - OR & WA

By Ken Park

White Salmon property owners can expect a one percent increase in their property taxes for 2024 following a unanimous vote by the White Salmon City Council.

At its Oct. 18 meeting, the White Salmon City Council passed an ordinance and resolution determining the amount to be raised by Ad Valorem taxes (property taxes) for fiscal year 2024.

The revenue from Ad Valorem taxes for the City of White Salmon is split 80 percent into the current expense fund and 20 percent into the streets fund in the city budget.

The proposed revenues for these budget items 2024 are $3.3 million for the current expense fund and $351,585 for the street fund.

By raising the tax by one percent, allowable by Washington State law, the estimated revenue will be $4,353.78.

Stephanie Porter

“The Ad Valorem taxes the city is required to approve the amount it's going to be levying for the following year,” White Salmon Clerk-Treasurer Stephanie Porter said.

“There is a one percent cap in the state of Washington, so we can levy up to 101 percent of our current taxes, not including new construction, home improvements, or other additional things that could increase value,” Porter said.

To approve this one percent increase in property taxes, the City of White Salmon has to demonstrate it needs the increase.

“Our budget as it is can show that we do that additional one percent,” Porter said.”Clearly not going to fill all the gaps in our budget, but every little bit helps.”

Once the budget for the City of White Salmon is complete, it will be sent off to Klickitat County with the final decisions of the council.

City Council held public hearings on the ordinance and resolution regarding this tax, and no public comments were made.

Council member Patty Fink asked where the City of White Salmon falls on the scale of other cities in the county regarding an overall tax rate.

Mayor Marla Keethler

“So it shifts, and variations change annually, but I will say historically, White Salmon falls pretty low statewide,” White Salmon Mayor Marla Keethler said. “In the county, we are the lowest in property taxes.”

Porter provided examples noting that property taxes in the City of Bingen are $1.81/ $1,000 accessed valuation, Klickitat County is $1.23/ $1,000 assessed valuation, and White Salmons is $0.76/$1,000 accessed valuation.

Data for the City of Goldendale property owners was not available at the time.

Council member Ben Giant stated that White Salmon property owners were getting a deal in this economy.

“If we look at national averages of inflation of over 4.3 percent year on year, this clearly isn’t keeping up with it,” Giant said. “ So I think the constituents of White Salmon are getting a deal, and we just have to figure out how to do more with less.”