Senior Citizens and Disabled Person Tax Relief
An exemption is available for senior citizens 61 years of age or older as of December 31st of the year in which application is filed, OR if physically disabled, OR a surviving spouse who is 57 years of age or older and your spouse had been receiving the exemption at the time of death.

The exemption will be allowed on your principal residence and up to one acre of land. Please contact the Franklin County Assessor's office at (509) 545-3506 for further information.

Property Tax Deferral Program Available for Fall Taxes
Department of Revenue is allowing homeowners on limited income to apply to defer paying their second half property taxes due October 31, 2009.  Applicants must have an annual household income of $57,000 or less in 2008, have owned the home for at least five years, use it as their primary residence, and have sufficient equity.  Deferred taxes cannot exceed 40 percent of equity.  The deferred taxes must be repaid, with interest, when the property is sold or no longer used as the homeowner's primary residence.  The interest rate is 5 percent for 2009.

For more information, see the Department of Revenue's publication Property Tax Deferral for Homeowners with Limited Income, call (360) 570-5900, or the Franklin County Assessor's office at (509) 545-3506.