Rate Limit - Each category of district is limited to a particular rate per thousand of assessed value with out voter approval. This rate limit overrides the preceding limitations. The limit applies to the aggregate of all regular levies except Port and PUD levies. The appraising of property to market value annually equalizes value across the county at market value. Each value is dependent upon the sales prices of similar properties that have sold.
Some properties increase at a higher rate because they are more desirable to purchasers.
Therefore, some property owners experience larger increases in taxes even though the same limitation is applied to the taxing districts. Another factor affecting taxes are the levies voted and approved by property owners. These can vary from year to year and increase taxes as they are approved and added to the basic funding for a district. The county does not receive all the money. The county gets only about 12 percent of the total taxes collected.