• Myth Vs. Truth

    Voters deserve facts, not misinformation. Throughout this campaign, misleading claims and incomplete information have created confusion about the Chelan County Assessor's Office. This page separates myth from truth by providing the facts, the applicable Washington laws, and the data behind the assessment process. My commitment is simple: transparency, accuracy, and accountability. I believe informed voters make better decisions, and the best way to earn your trust is by sharing the facts—not misleading narratives.
    meet wes

  • Myth #1: Experience

    Myth: My opponent has the experience to serve as Chelan County Assessor. Truth: Experience matters because the County Assessor's job is far more than valuing property. 
    My opponent has been a licensed real estate broker for approximately four years and, according to available records, has limited experience in residential real estate sales. She has stated that she is an accredited appraiser. However, according to the Washington State Department of Licensing and Department of Revenue, her appraisal accreditation is still pending and has not yet been completed. Public records indicate she has completed IAAO Course 101 but has not yet completed all of the requirements necessary to obtain accreditation. 
    By comparison, I bring nearly 40 years of experience in real estate, appraisal, and property tax administration. Since joining the Chelan County Assessor's Office in 2007, I have served as a residential appraiser, analyst, Chief Appraiser, Chief Deputy Assessor, and was unanimously appointed Chelan County Assessor by the County Commissioners in 2023. 
    During my career, I have worked in every major function of the Assessor's Office, including: Property valuation and appraisal Levy calculations Current Use and Open Space programs Senior, disabled, and veteran property tax exemptions Taxpayer assistance and appeals Office administration and leadership As Assessor, I have also worked with state legislators to improve property tax relief for seniors, veterans, and disabled residents, including supporting legislation that expands exemption eligibility and modernizes property tax relief programs. The County Assessor is responsible for much more than property assessments. 
    The office requires strong leadership to manage a team of 16 professionals, oversee complex property tax laws, understand levies and tax increment financing (TIF), administer multiple exemption programs, ensure compliance with RCW 84 and WAC 458, and provide fair, accurate, and transparent service to taxpayers. These responsibilities require years of hands-on experience and proven leadership. I have spent my career preparing for this role and remain committed to serving Chelan County with fairness, transparency, accountability, and full compliance with RCW 84 and WAC 458.
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  • Myth #2: Underassessed Properties

    Myth: Luxury homes are assessed millions below market value. Truth: County assessors in Washington are required by RCW 84.40 and WAC 458 to use mass appraisal, not fee appraisals, to value every property at 100% of its true and fair market value as of January 1 of the assessment year. Mass appraisal analyzes verified market data, property characteristics, and up to five years of comparable sales to ensure all taxpayers are treated fairly and uniformly. Individual sales must be carefully verified and adjusted before they can be used for valuation. Several of the examples cited were multi-parcel transactions, but only a single parcel was included in the comparison, creating an inaccurate picture of value. Another example involves property enrolled in Washington's Open Space Farm & Agricultural program, where state law requires the land to be assessed based on its agricultural use rather than its highest market value. Isolated or incomplete examples do not reflect how property assessment is performed under Washington law.
    assessment process 

  • Myth #3: Affordable homes are overvalued

    Myth: Affordable homes are routinely over-assessed, with many worth far less than their current assessed values. Truth: Comparing a property's current assessed value to a sale that occurred years earlier is misleading. Under RCW 84.40 and WAC 458-07, county assessors must value property as of the statutory assessment date using market data available at that time—not a prior sale price. Market changes between the sale date and the assessment date can result in an assessed value that is higher or lower than an earlier purchase price.
    assessment process 

  • Myth #4: Every dollar undertaxed on a luxury home is shifted to someone else's mailbox.

    Myth: More than $140 million in under-assessed property value results in approximately $1.1 million per year in property taxes being shifted to other taxpayers or reducing funding for local services. Truth: Washington's property tax system doesn't work that way. Most property taxes are levy-based, not rate-based. Taxing districts first establish the amount of revenue they are authorized to collect, and assessed values are then used to distribute that tax burden among property owners. When properties are not assessed at their true and fair market value, the overall levy generally does not increase. Instead, inaccurate assessments can result in some property owners paying more than their equitable share, while others pay less, depending on the taxing district and the type of levy.
    property taxes

  • Myth #5: An Unfair Tax Burden on Middle-

    & Low-Income Families

    Myth: When luxury second homes don't pay their fair share, the financial burden doesn't disappear; it gets shifted. Everyday working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and first-time homebuyers are forced to pick up the slack. This artificial inflation of property taxes is driving up monthly mortgage payments and forcing landlords to raise rents. It is actively making our community less affordable and pricing local families out of their own neighborhoods. Truth: Washington's property tax system does not shift taxes from one individual property directly to another. County assessors are required by law to value all taxable property at 100% of its true and fair market value using uniform appraisal methods. When properties are under-assessed, the primary result is an inequitable distribution of the tax burden among taxpayers—not an automatic increase in everyone's property taxes. Local taxing districts set their levies within statutory limits, and each property's share is determined by its proportion of the county's total assessed value. Fair, accurate, and uniform assessments help ensure every property owner pays only their lawful share.
    property taxes

  • Myth #6: Overassessments

    Myth: County assessed value above sale price proves overassessment. Truth: One sale does not prove an assessment is wrong. Washington assessors are required to value property using verified market evidence, mass appraisal standards, and analysis of the overall market—not a single transaction.
    assessment process
Political advertisement paid for by Friends of Wes Cornelius and approved by candidate. © 2026 Friends of Wes Cornelius. All rights reserved. Re-Elect Wes Cornelius for Chelan County Assessor