Posted on 12/10/2005 3:27:58 PM PST by An Old Man
New rules make it difficult for public to talk with staff in person or by telephone
Amy Cannata Staff writer December 10, 2005
Spokane County Assessor Ralph Baker is sending a clear message to anyone with questions or complaints about their property assessments: Stay home.
Baker has ordered chairs removed from his office's waiting area, directed employees to spend less time meeting with residents, and installed a new voice-mail system that makes it almost impossible for callers to actually reach an appraiser by phone.
At a time when assessments are climbing 18 percent, on average, the assessor is actively moving to restrict the ability of taxpayers to physically meet with his employees – and making no apologies for it. He wants people to start using e-mail or leave voice mail messages that can be responded to later.
"When we're handling people on a personal basis, it takes longer than by phone or by e-mail. And when that happens we serve fewer people, and it costs taxpayers more money," he said.
But his approach is troubling to many longtime public servants, and is forcing other taxpayer-funded county agencies to pick up the slack. The county Board of Equalization, which is where Baker has ordered many of the calls to his office transferred, was overwhelmed this summer, for example. Offering more information on the Internet means many people no longer have to visit the courthouse. "I believe that's good customer service," said Baker.
Those who do come down can't get the same level of service they once did.
Employees aren't allowed to help senior citizens fill out application forms for property tax exemptions or process those applications on-the-spot. They must be put behind other applications sent in by mail.
"All we have left for them is a bench in the hall," said Amie Swenson, president of Local 1553, the Spokane County Courthouse employees union.
"What's better, sit down and chat with the ladies and men who come down, or process (exemptions) in the order that they come in?" Baker asked, adding that applications from those who come down to the office in person shouldn't be moved ahead of those received by mail.
"I've asked that my staff resist having visitors in the office," he said.
Swenson said she has been dealing with assessor staff concerns since Baker took office earlier this year.
Staff complaints and suggestions haven't been favorably received by Baker, and several people have been reprimanded, said Swenson: "It appears that he gives an order and expects it to be obeyed no matter what," she said. "It's like a dictatorship."
It's impossible to do things the old-fashioned way, and the staff must accept change, countered Baker. Senior tax exemptions doubled this year. But the assessor's office hired just one additional employee.
Other calls usually handled by the assessor's office were punted earlier this year to the Board of Equalization, which handles citizen appeals of property appraisals.
As assessments rose by an average of 18 percent this summer, prompting a high level of citizen concern, Baker determined that his residential appraisers did not have time to talk to the public and get their other work done. So, Baker instituted a new voice mail system that made it next to impossible for the public to contact appraisers, but rather shuttled their calls to the Board of Equalization to handle, an office with just three employees.
In years past, the phone numbers of residential appraisers were listed on assessments in case citizens had questions, but Baker said he didn't want their other work interrupted by calls.
At the time, BOE administrator Linda Kovick complained that her office was overloaded by the calls and that customers were complaining. Many of their questions could have been handled outside the appeals process, Kovick added.
"When a new person comes on board, there's a lot of things they really don't know the domino effect of, and how it affects other departments," she said of Baker. "It did get taken care of. It was kind of after the horse got out and you're shutting the barn door."
Appraisers say some assessments include errors because of glitches in new software. In the past they could double-check the information on old paper "field books," but those have since been moved to the Washington State Archives in Cheney.
An upcoming move out of the county courthouse and into a nearby office building leaves no room for old, paper records, said Baker. He added that the software isn't prone to errors any more than the old paper records system, and most program glitches have been addressed.
The staff will come around, Baker said of the hard feelings now: "It'll heal in time."
That part got to me when I read this artilce this morning. So... I poked my browser to the appropriate state law governing the recall of public officials in the State of Washington where i found these tidbits.
SECTION 33 RECALL OF ELECTIVE OFFICERS. Every elective public officer of the state of Washington expect [except] judges of courts of record is subject to recall and discharge by the legal voters of the state, or of the political subdivision of the state, from which he was elected whenever a petition demanding his recall, reciting that such officer has committed some act or acts of malfeasance or misfeasance while in office, or who has violated his oath of office, stating the matters complained of, signed by the percentages of the qualified electors thereof, hereinafter provided, the percentage required to be computed from the total number of votes cast for all candidates for his said office to which he was elected at the preceding election, is filed with the officer with whom a petition for nomination, or certificate for nomination, to such office must be filed under the laws of this state, and the same officer shall call a special election as provided by the general election laws of this state, and the result determined as therein provided. [AMENDMENT 8, 1911 p 504 Section 1. Approved November, 1912.]
SECTION 34 SAME. The legislature shall pass the necessary laws to carry out the provisions of section thirty-three (33) of this article, and to facilitate its operation and effect without delay: Provided, That the authority hereby conferred upon the legislature shall not be construed to grant to the legislature any exclusive power of lawmaking nor in any way limit the initiative and referendum powers reserved by the people. The percentages required shall be, state officers, other than judges, senators and representatives, city officers of cities of the first class, school district boards in cities of the first class; county officers of counties of the first, second and third classes, twenty-five per cent. Officers of all other political subdivisions, cities, towns, townships, precincts and school districts not herein mentioned, and state senators and representatives, thirty-five per cent. [AMENDMENT 8, 1911 p 504 Section 1. Approved November, 1912.]
First I want to ask the members of Free Republic about the conduct of this elected public official. What is your opinion about this person?
Then (having already made um my mind)I am going to find a way to have this piece of work removed from public office.
If you want to help, please contact the author of the article at the places listed below. Thanks for your help.
Amy Cannata works as staff writer for The Spokesman-Review. In that position, Cannata covers transportation and Spokane county government.
She can be reached by e-mail at amyc@spokesman.com
Amy Cannata can be reached by phone at (509)459-5497. If that is a long-distance call for you, you can use the 800 number. The number is (800)338-8801 extension 5497.
You can send mail to her at:
Amy Cannata, staff writer
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside
Spokane, WA 99201
Cannata can be reached by fax at 459-5482.
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help.
Don't waste a bullet on him; ropes are reuseable.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
I'm having a little difficulty with the people working in government lately. Sometimes it seems like we are not using the same language when we try to communicate. The word customer in the above sentence is not the proper way to describe me when I seek to pay my taxes. It's not a proper way to describe me in any case where I am not making a purchase.
Customers make purchases. Citizens and Taxpayers elect government officials. We can also recall those who do not understand the difference.
Baker needs to be removed. He is a servant of the taxpayers and he is accountable to them. He and his office owe every single taxpayer the courtesy of an individual reply. If you're going to raise someone's assessment, it's generally not a good idea to tell them to shove off and get stuffed when they question the increase.
No, you aren't the customer or client.
You is the "Screwee" and the gubmint agent is the "Screwer".
He should be fired. Then he'll learn the meaning of customer service. In this case, those taxpayers to whom he wants to limit access happen to be his boss, not the other way around. The assessor answers to them, they don't answer to him. "
AMEN.
Is he elected or appointed?
Either way, he has to go.
Rehab won't work for this POS.
This is from the Bio at his official WEB Site: "On January 4, 2005, I was appointed by the Spokane County Commissioners to replace Duane Sommers who retired as Spokane County Assessor. I had been Mr. Sommer’s Chief Deputy Assessor for the previous two years."
The appointment may pose somewhat of a problem in having him removed as he was not elected. Now I have to research how to remove a political appointee.
Semper Fi
Get him out of office! Anytime a public official plunders his village and locks himself in his castle, it is time to break down the door and force him out for public judgement.
This is a case of blatant government abuse....... especially with property tax assessments increasing an average of 18%! People have a right to be pissed!
1st of all, let me state that I am not angry. It is my intention to proceed with this in a cool, calm and efficient manner. This man at the very least has to stand for election when the term of office he was appointed to expires. At that time, it will appear to him as if he has walked into a political mine field.
The property I own in his jurisdiction probably went up way more than 18%. We will not know until the tax bill arrives after the 1st of the year.
In your reply you wrote: "This is a case of blatant government abuse"
I am not ignorant of the law, but, how can you justify that from a legal position?
I may need an actionable offense before I can proceede. It is not against the law to lack the common courtesy most of us expect from our employees.
Semper Fi
wrongdoing or misconduct especially by a public official
Misconduct fits the bill. He is answerable to the citizens as taxpayers. He chooses not to be accessible. Period.
how can you justify that from a legal position?
Any increase of taxes without a vote of the people is blatant government abuse. If there has been some blanket approval of such increases by the legislature, the specifc law granting that authority would have to be repealed.
The State of Missouri has the "Hancock Amendment" that forces spending limits to me maintained or increased at specific levels etc. I am not real familiar with the specifics but you could research the Hancock Amendment to see if it could be relevant in your case for a future legislative push.
What ever happened to the humble asking by government of a one or two percent tax increase from the people? What happened to the time that an assessor was asked to justify the specific NEED of where the tax increases were going?
When people see the NEED of a tax increase, they are more willing to accept that increase. But for a tax assessor to "justify" such a huge increase based on his opinion and hide is just wrong and is abusive. The day of a humble family owning property is being taxed out of existance.
If government spending is not capped, then taxes will never be capped either.
In the government's eyes......the small guy costs the government money. The big guy makes the government money.
Sounds like he is accountable to the county commissioners and is supposed to provide inormation, education and assistance, seems he is only providing the first part of ASSistance. First thing I would do is look for his written job description then get ahold of the county commissioners.
http://www.spokanecounty.org/assessor/
Mission Statement
Our mission is to maintain a property assessment and revaluation program that complies with the laws of Washington and to provide courteous professional service.
Services
Established by state constitution and laws, enforced by the Department of Revenue, the Assessor's Office:
Inspects and revalues all real property at least once every 6 years.
Maintains inventory, description, ownership, sales and mapping for all property.
Prepare online this Statement of Assessed Valuations, Tax Rates and Taxes Levied Within the Various Taxing Districts of Spokane County.
Provides information, education and assistance.
Provides public computer access to assessment data.
Allocates value to taxing districts, calculates levy rates and certifies the tax roll to the Treasurer.
Administers and provides information for tax exemptions:
Senior citizen and disabled persons exemption Property Tax Exemption
Open space, forest land exemption
Historic properties exemption
Residential home improvement exemption
Prepares defenses of valuations for Board of Equalization, State Board of Tax Appeals & courts.
Main Entry: mal·fea·sance
Pronunciation: "mal-'fE-z&n(t)s
Function: noun
Etymology: mal- + obsolete feasance doing, execution
: wrongdoing or misconduct especially by a public official
That is exactly what I remember the word to mean. The"wrongdoing or misconduct" part is going to be somewhat difficult to argue from the basis of the information written in the article above. I will have to do more research and find something else to pin on his backside.
Thanks for your help!
Semper FI
Thanks for your help!
Semper Fi
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