Soundings (8/6/13)
Flag Salute and Invocation by Glendine Barley
Visiting Rotarians: Alice Collingswood and Susan Macek (LaConner Club, promoting their annual cocktail auction, August 24th, details at www.harvestinghopeauction.org), and soon-to-be member Patti Leach.
Guests: Soon-to-be members Andy and Celeste.
Announcements
- Bob Moles announced that after much discussion, the board voted to move the G&G event to Silver Reef this year (Sunday November 3rd).
- Successful Brewers and Baseball games last week.
- Board meeting this Thursday morning 7:30am at Barkley/Talbot office.
- BBRC Foundation: Value as of 7/31/2013: $ 222,774.64. Growth in value YTD 2013 $32,977.19.
Bucks in the Bay
- Steve Kimberly great fishing in Sitka with friends.
- Lance went to Sounders game with family, rode the ferris wheel;
- John Sleeth successful brain surgery, deep brain stimulation and fewer headaches!
- Frank Z trying to find fish in the San Juans, a 20-lb. king salmon;
- Tonja Myers, hi to Andy, new granddaughter: Elliot Marie!
- Anna thanked the cooks at Brewers (Skip, Frank, Brent, Tyler, Bill Geyer and Christine), great event! And second time as a great grandmother.
- Jim “McCallum” will be returning, Dr. Dan Cheney passed away;
- Kendall soon to be married, new job at Saratoga real estate;
- Bob Becker says Mike Hammes was awarded for his philanthropy, the awards luncheon will be in Seattle on November 14th, more details soon;
- Stan Dyer $100 for Foundation, talked to Art Runestrandt who had a little fall recently, sister passed away on July 4th in California - she had a great life and they had a nice celebration of her life;
- Brent Walker enjoyed being a fry cook at Brewers.
Sergeant at Arms by Orphalee
Fines for John Sleeth, and trivia about Rotary.
Program
Bill introduced Keith Willnauer, our Whatcom County Assessor. http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/assessor/.
Keith is a grad of UW, longtime employee of Watch County Assessor’s office. The Assessor is elected to a 4-year term, nonpartisan position (current term 2008-12). The office’s main mission is to determine and establish value of all real and taxable personal property in county, used to distribute tax responsibility.
The office DOES:
- Appraises and revalues all real property once every 4 years.
- Maintains inventory, description, ownership, sales and mapping for all property.
- Publishes an annual tax booklet: the Statement of Assessed Valuations, Tax Rates and Taxes Levied Within the Various Taxing Districts of Whatcom County.
- Provides information, education and assistance (tax guides and online property search info);
- Allocates value to taxing districts, calculates levy rates and certifies tax roll to Treasurer.
The office DOES NOT:
- Set property tax policy;
- Raise values to raise money or taxes;
- Determine how much money is needed.
Why is property tax good thing? Because it is a community tax to support community services - money comes from, but stays in, the local community.
Tax increases year in review: new allocations include passed levies such as Bellingham Affordable Housing ($3M) and misc. school districts (total $6.9M). Port of Bellingham has been REDUCING their property tax burden recently.
Stan wins the raffle!
Respectfully Submitted,
Stowe Talbot