Commissioners Agree To Allow State Review Of Assessor’s Office

Spokane County commissioners agreed Tuesday to accept the state’s offer to help rescue the beleaguered county assessor’s office.

The state Department of Revenue will review Assessor Charlene Cooney’s operation for up to 10 months at a cost not to exceed $70,000.

County taxpayers will pay half; state taxpayers, the other half.

“These are tax dollars being spent wisely for the preservation of the assessor’s office for the future,” Cooney said.

In May, Cooney came under fire for mismanagement and poor leadership after The Spokesman-Review reported that inaccurate property appraisals had forced her to slash nearly $100 million from the county’s assessed valuation.

The amount has climbed to more than $142 million because of several successful appeals by property owners.

County taxing districts, including the city of Spokane, stand to lose at least $1.5 million in taxes because of the errors and might have to cut services or employees.

Cooney said Tuesday that 149 appeals are left to be heard, while 70 cases are headed to formal hearings.

“I hope we can get our system improved and get a more timely re-evaluation program accomplished,” she said.

Cooney primarily blames massive changes in the way properties are assessed. Instead of every four years, assessments are being done every year. An undersized staff and complicated computer system have compounded problems in her office, Cooney said.

She also said the number of parcels has risen from 177,000 to 182,000 in the two-and-a-half years since she took office.

Many government officials, employees and property owners, however, trace the bulk of the problems to Cooney.

The assessor said she welcomes the state review and even had asked for it.

The Department of Revenue will assign project manager Rich Baird to oversee Cooney’s operations, meet with staff members over the coming months and recommend solutions.

His report will be advisory in nature and not punitive, said Will Rice, the department’s assistant director.

The state’s review will begin with an open mind and will depend on complete and confidential access to employees in the assessor’s office, Rice told commissioners.

“We’re not here to be someone’s defender or antagonist. We don’t get drawn into politics,” he said. “We’re here to make positive improvements.”

, DataTimes