Washington Administrative Code › Title 458 - Revenue, Department of › Chapter 458-50 - Intercounty utilities and transportation companies-Assessment and taxation › Section 458-50-070 - Annual assessment - Procedure

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
In general.
Annually between the fifteenth day of March and the
			 first day of July the department shall proceed to list and value the operating
			 property of each company subject to assessment by the department. The
			 department shall prepare a report summarizing the information, factors and
			 methods used in determining the tentative value of each such company (hereafter
			 called "report of tentative value"). The department shall prepare an assessment
			 roll upon which shall be placed after the name of each company a general
			 description of the operating property of the company described in accordance
			 with RCW
			 84.12.200(12), following
			 which shall be entered the actual cash value as tentatively determined by the
			 department.
(2)
Notice of
			 tentative value.
On or before the thirtieth day of June, the department
			 shall notify each company by mail of the tentative valuation entered upon such
			 assessment roll. At the time of making such notification, the department shall
			 also transmit to the company the report of tentative value prepared by the
			 department. Upon written request of a county assessor the department shall also
			 transmit the report of tentative value to such assessor.
(3)
Hearings.
(a)
In general.
Each company
			 may petition the department for a hearing relating to the value of its
			 operating property as tentatively determined by the department and to the value
			 of other taxable properties in the counties in which its operating property is
			 situated. Such petition shall be made in writing and filed with the department
			 within the first ten working days of July. The department shall appoint a time
			 within ten working days following the hearing request time period for the
			 conduct of such hearing, which may be held in such places throughout the state
			 as the department may deem proper or necessary. Notice of the time and place of
			 any or all hearings shall be given to any person upon request.
(b) The hearing shall be conducted by the
			 director or by any employee or agent of the department designated by the
			 director. A record of the proceedings shall be kept and shall be considered a
			 public record. The hearing shall be recorded with a recording device and the
			 recordings shall become a part of the record of the proceedings and considered
			 a part of the public record. All records and documents presented at the hearing
			 shall become a part of the record of the proceeding and shall be considered a
			 part of the public record, except as provided in (c) of this
			 subsection.
(c) The hearing shall
			 be open to the public, except (i) when the company proposes to offer in
			 evidence information relating to its assessment if disclosure of such
			 information to other persons would violate the company's right to privacy or
			 would result in an unfair competitive disadvantage to such company; or (ii)
			 when the department proposes to offer in evidence information which has been
			 obtained pursuant to
			 RCW
			 84.12.240 if the disclosure of such
			 information to other persons would violate the company's right to privacy or
			 would result in an unfair competitive disadvantage to such company. The hearing
			 at this point shall be closed to the public unless the company consents to the
			 proceeding remaining open to the public.
(d) Testimony recorded, and all records and
			 documents of a confidential nature introduced, during the period when the
			 hearing is closed to the public shall become a part of the record, but shall
			 not be disclosed except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or upon
			 consent of the company.
(e) Records
			 of the proceedings shall be maintained for a period of seven years following
			 the close of the hearing.