Since he was first elected Clark County assessor in 2010, Peter Van Nortwick’s understanding of the office has changed.
“You know how it’s really changed?” he said. “That we are the only defense for taxpayers.”
The county assessor is responsible for determining the assessed value of over 170,000 parcels of property. The assessed value of each property, along with the approved budgets of local jurisdictions, is used to prepare tax rolls. If one property owner’s parcel is undervalued, Van Nortwick said that essentially means their neighbors are picking up their share of taxes.
In coming months, voters will determine if Van Nortwick, a Republican, has defended taxpayers well enough to keep his job. He’s been challenged by Ridgefield City Councilor Darren Wertz and political newcomer Norbert Schlecht. The top two candidates from the Aug. 7 primary will square off in the Nov. 6 general election.
The assessor’s office has a 2018 annual budget of $4.2 million and 42 full-time employees. The assessor is paid $114,509 annually.
Neither of Van Nortwick’s challengers agreed to an interview. Public records show Schlecht, who is unaffiliated with a party, has been involved in an ongoing dispute with Van Nortwick that’s involved multiple government entities. Wertz, a Republican, declined an interview citing a pressing family matter while expressing confidence about his campaign.
“We can talk more about what I will do in office after the primary,” he said in an email.
Schlecht dispute
Shortly after filing to run for assessor, Schlecht sent The Columbian a statement stressing he would give a fair deal to all property owners. According to the statement, he’s worked as an accountant and analyst. He also pledged not to accept contributions (which he’s kept).
“Like a robot, I will enforce the rules the same for everybody, not to be swayed by anything or anyone,” he wrote.
There is little other public information about him. He failed to file a required form with the state’s election monitor outlining his personal assets.
In October 2016, the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals, which adjudicates tax liability disputes, heard an appeal brought by Schlecht against Van Nortwick. Schlecht alleged that the value of his Hazel Dell home should be adjusted to $1 because of an adjacent drug house instead of the $210,164 value assessed by the county. The adjustment would have meant Schlecht would pay virtually no taxes. The board sided with the assessor.
In March, Schlecht filed a complaint with the Washington State Auditor’s Office alleging that Van Nortwick lied under oath during the hearing. He also alleged that Van Nortwick engaged in cronyism by improperly giving Wertz “substantial assessment reductions” for a contaminated property he owns. Wertz previously served on the Board of Equalization, a county panel that hears property owner appeals of their assessments.
According to records obtained through a public records request, the auditor’s office closed the complaint in May after finding it was unsubstantiated.
In April, Schlecht, not represented by an attorney, filed a lawsuit against Clark County repeating the allegations he made in his complaint to the auditor’s office. He also alleged the county violated state law when it didn’t produce records in response to a records request from Schlecht regarding the assessed value of his home. The county is contesting the lawsuit.
‘Show us the statistics’
During an interview at the Dragonfly Cafe, Van Nortwick said the adjustment Schlecht was seeking was authorized by the standards by which his office is governed.
“I have to have market evidence to back up (adjustments),” he said, noting that real estate listings don’t include factors such as alleged drug houses.
Van Nortwick, who has been a licensed appraiser since 2003 and a certified general real estate appraiser since 2007, explained that his office has to follow standards laid out by the International Association of Assessing Officers as well as state statutes.
In recent years, property values have been on the rise as more people have moved to the area. In response, property owners have complained that their assessments are too high.
“If you disagree with us, show us the statistics and show us where we’re inequitable and we’ll address that,” said Van Nortwick. “It’s all done by statistics; the statistics show you the story.”
Van Nortwick said the statistics show his office is effective. In Washington, county assessors are supposed to assess properties at a fair market value. Because the market value of a property can shift, especially in a hot market like Clark County, the state applies a ratio comparing the assessed value of a property to what it sells for on the market.
Earlier this year, Clark County was already going to see an increase in the statewide levy from $1.89 to $2.70 per $1,000 of assessed value as a result of a school funding package approved by the Legislature. But the state applied a ratio that increased Clark County’s levy to $2.89 because the assessed values of properties in the county have been lower than what they’ve sold for on the market.
Van Nortwick said that an annual report from the Washington State Department of Revenue, which measures the performance of county assessors, shows that his office is accurately assessing properties. Among the benchmarks used by the report, it recommends that the median ratio between the assessed value and sales value of a property be between 0.90 and 1.10. The report found that Clark County met this and all the other performance benchmarks.
“I think the office is doing a great job,” said Van Nortwick said.
The assessor works closely with the county treasurer, who collects taxes. Clark County Treasurer Doug Lasher, a Democrat, said that he works wells with Van Nortwick. Lasher, who is stepping down this year, said Van Nortwick has continued to improve his office and he supports his re-election to keep steady leadership.
Adjusting the assessments
If a property owner disagrees with their assessment, they can appeal to the county’s three-member Board of Equalization.
Daniel Weaver, the board’s chair who previously ran against Van Nortwick, said that the board hears 650 appeals each year and makes adjustments for about 60 percent of them. But he said that the role of the board isn’t necessarily to be an adversary of the assessor, but is instead there to bring some “healthy skepticism” to assessments and make refinements as needed.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean (Van Nortwick) made a mistake,” said Weaver of when the board adjustments an assessment.
Weaver said Van Nortwick is doing fine as assessor and that he has a good relationship with the board.
Van Nortwick said that his office makes mass appraisals, often looking at whole neighborhoods. He said that the Board of Equalization can help single out properties with unique characteristics that need adjustments.
“I have no issue with the Board of Equalization and the appeals process,” he said.
