King County Assessor, John Wilson has announced the November 2018 Taxpayer Transparency Tool. A website, the new tool provides each King County taxpayer an individualized accounting of where their property tax dollars go, as well as the estimated cost of any proposed tax measure.

In a press release King County Executive Dow Constantine said, “The Assessor’s new transparency tool will it make it easier than ever for the people of King County to know how their property taxes are being invested and what portion is supporting local, regional or statewide infrastructure and services.”

The tool was tested in April during the special election and it was widely available for ballot measures appearing in the August primary. King County residents will be able to see how the property tax measures on the ballot this November will impact them. Property tax measures for Mercer Island, Bothell, Fire District 45 (Duvall area) and Si View Metropolitan Park District (North Bend area) are included in the Taxpayer Transparency Tool.

“Taxpayers have a right to know where their money is going, and what each proposed property tax will cost them,” Wilson said in a release. “Property taxes keep going up. We need to make sure the public understands why.”

The Taxpayer Transparency Tool was created by Wilson due to the property tax system in Washington State being so complicated. The new tool will allow voters to make informed decisions about ballot measures. It also will help illustrate how the tax system works. The new tool is expected to assist taxpayers who contact the assessor’s office ahead of each election and provide information quickly.

The new tool can be found online at http://localscape.spatialest.com/#kingcountyassessor/Tax.