Oregon property taxes up
Many Washington County property owners will see as much as 13% property tax increase. Some Portland homes will witness an 11% increase in their property taxes. Clackamas property owners will see an average of 3% increase.
Multnomah County homeowners will see a substantial increase in property taxes as a result of three ballot measures approved last November. Those measures were: the Portland School District’s $482 million school construction bond, the largest in Oregon’s history; the Multnomah County library district, which established a permanent taxing structure; Metro’s natural areas levy.Dollar amounts are as follows: $45 million to Portland Public Schools, $33 million to Multnomah County libraries, $3 million for maintenance and restoration of county parks and natural areas.
For Washington County tax increases are fueled by rising property value. Average Washington County home value rose 7%. This increase was despite a half decade of decline. Adding to the tax increase are two levies passed by voters, one for schools and the other for police.
Clackamas County property tax bills are expected to rise by an average of 3%. Oregon City is one of the cities within Clackamas that is expected to rise greater than the county at 4%. Those living in Wilsonville, Milwaukie and West Linn are expected to receive a smaller increase of 2.5%.
More on Portland
Those in the Portland School District will see the biggest jump, about 11.1 percent, or $454 for a home with a median tax assessment of $188,590. Those served by the Parkrose, David Douglas, Centennial and Reynolds School Districts will get a 5 to 6 percent increase. A smaller rise can be expected by Gresham residents. In general, Multnomah County homeowners will see a 9.2 percent increase.
The City of Portland will collect about 2 percent more in property taxes, although receipts going toward city operations are dropping 0.4 percent. The total increase will go into the Portland Fire and Police Disability and Retirement Fund.
County tax rolls reflect real market property values as of January 1, so property tax statements will not show the double-digit rise in some home prices this year. Those increases will appear on next year’s statement. However, real market value and assessed value may differ widely. Taxes are based on assessed property values, which are capped at a 3 percent increase per year by two tax limitations passed in 1996 and 1997. The prices for inner North and Northeast Portland homes have risen the most since the limits were approved, while East Portland and some Gresham prices have lagged. So assessed values of the latter properties are closer to market prices than those homes in North and Northeast.
