The Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer’s reported failure to physically inspect thousands of county properties has prompted the County Council to examine how the office operates.

Council Chair Roger Bush said the council’s Performance Audit staff will begin to determine the resources necessary for the office to meet its legal requirements. State law mandates that every parcel of land be physically inspected every six years to determine its value for property-tax purposes.

“On behalf of everyone who pays property taxes, the most important thing we can do right now is to get to the bottom of this,” Bush said. “People have to know that they — and their neighbors — are paying no more than their fair share.”

Current Assessor-Treasurer Dale Washam last week told councilmembers that he learned about the years-long backlog since taking office in January. Washam was explaining why his office could not take a budget reduction the County Executive has asked of his and all county departments to make up for an $8 million reveue shortfall.

The council has no direct authority over the independently elected assessor-treasurer, but councilmembers do have final say over the county budget. If the assessor-treasurer’s budget must be left without any cuts, Bush said it could make balancing the overall budget even more difficult.

Councilmembers will take action on the resolution approving the study of the assessor-treasurer’s office during the council’s regular meeting March 24 at 3 p.m. in the Council Chambers (930 Tacoma Ave. S., Room 1045) in Tacoma.