Thurston County

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About the Board of Equalization

Please be advised that due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic concerns, the Thurston County BOE continues to offer the following alternate approaches to conducting business:

Submissions of new 2021 Petitions are being accepted electronically through the link on our website. Please find Petition forms on our Forms page. Helpful guidance can be found in the Appeal Preparation Guide as well as on this site under the links for Assessment Appeal, Appeal Process, Preparing an Appeal, and Frequently Asked Questions.
Supplemental Information for previously filed 2020 appeals may also be submitted electronically.
All BOE hearings are being held remotely via a conference call format.
BOE meetings are also being held by conference call. See details in "Business Meeting Schedule."

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The Thurston County Board of Equalization is a quasi-judicial board comprised of three citizen members who are appointed for three-year terms by the Thurston County Commissioners. Three alternate members are also appointed by the County Commissioners to serve when regular Board members are absent. The Board is established by the laws of Washington State and governed by the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR), pursuant to RCW 84.08.020 and 84.08.060.

The Board is separate from and operates independently of the Thurston County Assessor. It adjudicates appeals of assessed property valuations and other determinations of the Assessor, with a goal of providing an impartial and economical forum to hear and decide appeals brought by taxpayers. The Board is also responsible for equalizing the assessed values so that all real and personal properties in Thurston County are assessed equitably at 100 percent of their true and fair value, with comparable properties assessed at comparable values.

Hearings of the Board are open to the public except for confidential proceedings involving proprietary business information. Hearings are held during business hours, usually in Building One, Room 152 of the Thurston County Courthouse, located at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW in Olympia.

The Board’s Clerk and staff are employees of Thurston County; however, they perform their duties under the direction, and serve at the pleasure, of the Board, pursuant to RCW 84.48.028.

Current members of the Board are:
John Morrison, Chairman
Robert Hastings, Vice Chair
Diane Pust

Alternate Members of the Board are:
John Graver
Ted May

Customer Service Hours

Board of Equalization customer service is available by appointment only.

In accordance with the Thurston County Health Officer's masking directive, masks will be required for all persons seeking service in person, regardless of vaccination status.

The Thurston County BOE is NOW accepting petitions and supplemental information online.

Use one of the following links to attach your PDF read-only documents (this is necessary to ensure your data/signature doesn't get lost when transmitted). Please do not electronically submit documents through a different email or by any other method.

Click these instructions on how to save your completed PDF interactive petition form for electronic submittal.

For the majority of taxpayers, the deadline to appeal their 2021 assessment was October 22, however, if your Official Valuation Change Notice from the Assessor's Office provides a later, upcoming deadline date, you may use the link below to submit a NEW 2021 Petition, and/or supporting documents for your 2021 petition:

*NEW* Submit NEW Petition

ONLY use the below link for submitting additional information on an existing 2020 appeal:

Submit Supplemental Info

Paper copies of Petition forms and other documents can also be mailed through the US Postal Service to the Thurston County Board of Equalization, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia WA 98502-6045. If taxpayers wish to deliver their Petition in person or send it via UPS or Fed Ex, the address is 929 Lakeridge Drive SW, Room 117, Olympia, WA 98502. There is a drop box outside of our office (Building 4, Room 117) or outside the rear entrance of Building 4 (929 Lakeridge Drive SW). There is also a drop box at the main courthouse complex (2000 Lakeridge Drive SW) on the circular drive nearest to Building 1.

Staff Contact

Ruth Elder, Clerk / Manager
Board of Equalization

Phone

Office: 360-786-5135
TTY/TDD: 711 or 1-800-833-6388

Email Ruth Elder

Mailing Address

2000 Lakeridge Drive SW
Olympia, WA 98502-6045

Street Address (Map)

County Building 4,
Room 117
929 Lakeridge Drive SW
Olympia, WA 98502

Meeting Location (Map)

County Building 1
Room 152
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW
Olympia, WA 98502

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