Bothell woman's property tax jumps $790,000 in one year

“We are required by state law to assess property at fair market value.”

A 92-year-old woman just got a stunning tax bill. The value of her land had jumped by hundreds of thousands of dollars. via KOMO

[Steam]

Tough toenails Bertha.

The "lead-in" to this story is erroneous. It states that her "property tax" jumped $790,000 in one year.

ABSOLUTELY FALSE! It was the property VALUE, not the tax, that went up by $790,000.

According to the story Bertha has 1.5 acres and is taxed at "almost" $7,000. I have (according to the Assessor's office) 0.22 acres and my taxes are "almost" $3600.

Now according to my calculation, Bertha has more than 6-1/2 times as much property as I yet her tax bill is less than double my tax bill.

Seems to me that even with the new assessment Bertha is getting quite the tax break.