New state law expands property tax exemptions for larger pool of Spokane County residents

About 5,000 more seniors in Spokane will qualify for property tax breaks thanks to a state law signed this week. The county, however, won’t collect fewer taxes, so most taxpayers will pay slightly more in a tax shift.

A recently approved state law will expand property tax exemptions for seniors, disabled people and veterans, in an effort to combat rising costs of living and to “help them stay in their homes,” said Spokane County Treasurer and state Rep. Mike Volz.

“It’s better for the community; it’s better for these individuals,” Volz said.

Volz, joined by Spokane County Assessor Tom Konis, shared the details of the new policies with the media Tuesday. The state bill signed into law last week expanded the State’s Senior Citizen Property Tax Relief program, first established in 1967 by constitutional amendment. Homeowners 61 and older, with a disability rating for Social Security or a military disability, are eligible for the program.

The revisions expand who qualifies, increasing the income threshold for Spokane County residents from $50,000 to $74,000. Konis, who helped draft the updates and advocated for their approval, said around 10,000 county homeowners are currently enrolled in the program. The income threshold change could mean around 4,000 to 6,000 more could now qualify.

“It’s really, again, going to open this up to a lot more people on fixed income,” Konis said. Under the law, he owner of a $300,000 property whose earnings are in the lowest income bracket to qualify would pay about $225 in property taxes in 2027, down from about $3,000.

With fewer homeowners paying the full amount of property taxes under the program, other homeowners will have to pay more. The owner of a $400,000 home would likely see a bump of around $20, Konis said.

The exemptions themselves will also expand starting in 2027; those enrolled in the program will now be exempted from all state school levy property taxes.

Another key update, Konis said, is new standardized deductions for income calculations: $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for a couple. Medical deductions have been part of the program, but required burdensome receipt gathering and paperwork, Konis said.

“I’ve heard so many people say they started the paperwork and it just got too complicated, so they gave up,” Konis said. “We’re really hoping this will help with that.”

Volz said the changes are all about helping homeowners who could be vulnerable. He said he frequently hears from seniors still living in the homes they raised their families in who are “paying more in property tax than they ever paid for their mortgage.”

Volz and Konis both encouraged people interested in learning more about the program and the updates, which will take effect in 2027, to reach out to their respective offices.

“This is great public policy,” Volz added. “It’ll help tons of people.”