Comparable Sales Search
Search comparable residential sales information to help taxpayers review market context and public assessment data.
Modernization & Public Trust
Doing more with less.
Modernization is not only about buying new software. It is about understanding the work, improving the process, reducing unnecessary costs, and making information easier for taxpayers to access.
Staffing and space comparison
The point is not that staffing reductions are automatically good. The point is that modernization has helped maintain and improve service despite limited resources.
Approx. 1996
34
employees
Today
24
authorized positions, 23 currently filled
Then
100%
office space footprint
Today
~60%
current office space footprint
Independent review
DOR observations on staffing, workload, and budget.
The Department of Revenue’s 2025 staffing and budget review recognized both the workload pressures facing the office and the efficiency gains from modernization.
“The Assessor has accomplished the mandated duties with current staffing levels through innovations in technology and streamlining of work processes.”Washington Department of Revenue, 2025 Staffing and Budget Review
- Yakima County had 104,645 parcels and 25 FTEs in the 2025 DOR review data.
- The review showed Appraisal workloads exceeded nationally recognized planning guidelines..
- The Department of Revenue concluded that Yakima County was achieving optimal production from appraisal staff despite staffing and workload pressures.
- DOR noted that mandated duties were being accomplished through innovations in technology and streamlined work processes.
- DOR noted Yakima County ranked lowest among comparable geographic counties for budget dollars per parcel.
- Despite limited resources, DOR recognized the office for innovation, streamlined work processes, and efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
Public-facing tools
Resources built for access and transparency.
Residential Sales Dashboard
Review verified residential sales and general market trend information used for transparency and public education.
Tax District Levy Trends
View how levy rates and tax district amounts have changed over time across Yakima County.
Links point to public Yakima County resources for educational and transparency purposes created by Jacob.
Practical modernization
Four areas of improvement.
These improvements are part of a broader effort to make the office more accessible, efficient, and transparent.
Workflow
Strengthened review processes, reporting, and internal coordination so work moves more consistently.
Automation
Replaced manual processes with templates, electronic routing, import tools, databases, and more efficient workflows.
Public Access
Expanded public tools, searchable information, explanatory dashboards, and taxpayer education resources.
Stewardship
Used existing tools and in-house solutions to reduce unnecessary costs while improving the office’s ability to serve the public.
Timeline
Modernization has been continuous.
This timeline shows long-term improvement rather than a single campaign-year project.
Reducing manual work and backlogs
- Modernized boundary adjustment and name change processing.
- Created letter templates that pulled information from assessment systems instead of relying on hand typing.
- Created electronic routing for value modifications.
- Built tools to support multiple parcel photos and improved field data collection.
Making information easier to find and understand
- Expanded website information with pop-up explanations and terminology support.
- Created searchable sales tools for taxpayers, title companies, attorneys, and the public.
- Focused on clear information that helps residents navigate public records.
Improving processing and internal efficiency
- Created systems to streamline senior citizen exemption applications.
- Expanded exemption processing and electronic forwarding for review.
- Created tools to automate the import of personal property asset information from electronic data.
Results since taking office
- Continued modernization while operating with fewer employees and reduced office space.
- Expanded public-facing tools and practical internal workflows.
- Earned the IAAO Mass Appraisal Specialist designation to support professional standards.