Soundings (8/6/13)

Posted by G. Stowe Talbot 
on Aug 6, 2013
 

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