Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

While I still take issue with the 2023 property tax protocol, I wish to set the record straight about our outhouse assessment. In August I submitted a letter to the editor regarding assessment of our outhouse. Before the paper was off the press, we left for an extended time. My letter helped fuel what was already a cauldron of anger over property assessments. I recently returned and talked with assessor personnel to understand what happened. Evidently, one structure was listed as two sheds and assessed independently. The smaller shed was close to the size of our outhouse. I was incorrect in assuming it was the outhouse. It wasn’t. I apologize to the community for inciting more anger, and I respectfully suggest that the assessor take the time to measure structural parameters in their entirety rather than fractional pieces.