Vancouver, WA – Clark County Assessor Peter Van Nortwick is urging owners to ensure that their property meets the definition for commercial farmland if it is enrolled in the “Current Use Farm and Agriculture” program. Van Nortwick said the county recently audited 510 parcels and found 35 failing to meet state requirements for farmland receiving special tax status. As a result, 24 owners received bills averaging about $38,000 each for unpaid property taxes, interest and penalties. The audits were conducted in response to questions, comments and concerns raised by farmers and other property taxpayers, he said. “When taxes are deferred or reduced for farms, other taxpayers pick up a greater share of the taxes to support budgets within their taxing districts. My role is to ensure that everyone is paying their fair share.” A second round of audits is in progress on 446 parcels. Van Nortwick said audits will continue until compliance is checked for all 2,773 parcels in the program. ”The program is designed to save farmland. The whole point is to encourage people to actually farm,” he said. “As long as you can meet the definition of active farming we support you.” More information is available from the Assessor’s Office at (360) 397-2391.