SPOKANE, Wash. — A new state law could save seniors thousands of dollars on their property taxes by expanding an existing exemption program.
Starting in 2027, seniors 61 or older who make less than $74,000 per year will qualify for property tax exemptions. The new law raises the income requirements so more people qualify.
This program already exists in Washington and Spokane County Assessor Tom Konis says 10,700 are already qualified for it statewide. By raising the income qualifications for this program, he says another 4,000 to 6,000 could be eligible.
“If you qualify for this program, you could save anywhere from $1,900 to $2,800 per year. Substantial savings, especially for the people out there on fixed incomes right now. With everything else going up,” Konis said.
Local senior centers like Corbin Senior Activity Center say most of the people it serves would qualify for this program. Seniors like Denise Fanazik hope they can qualify.
“I have confidence that I can stay in my home. That’s so important because that’s the place that the kids come home to visit, the grandkids, the neighbors,” Fanazik said.
But the county assessor’s office says the money that seniors save will have to be collected from other homeowners.
“When we take people out of paying the tax, that just shifts it to the other people remaining. For us it looks like a $15 to $20 per household shift,” Konis said.
Konis says that increase will be per year.
Seniors can apply starting in the spring of 2027, and qualifying will be based on this year’s income.
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