Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Page 8
Property tax increases
(Editor’s Note: The fol-
lowing data are from the Jose-
phine County Assessor’s Of-
fice)
Property tax state-
ments for the 2003-2004
fiscal year have been
mailed to Josephine
County property owners.
The tax statements
have a due date of Mon-
day, Nov. 17; and if paid
in full taxpayers will re-
ceive a 3 percent discount.
New for this year is a
change in forestland spe-
cial assessment valuation
for property owners with
forestland holding of more
than 5,000 acres.
The result in this seg-
ment increased the total of
all specially assessed for-
estland so that the total
assessed value of specially
assessed forestland is up
246 percent during the
valuation in 2002.
The total assessed
value of all taxable prop-
erty in Josephine County
has increased 5.3 percent
from 2002. As of Jan. 1,
2003 the taxable total
value has increased to
$4,234,049,236.
The total taxable as-
sessed value in 2002 was
$4,020,453,842, a 5 per-
cent increase during 2001.
The total taxable assessed
value in 2001 was
$3,828,997,720.
The city of Cave Junc-
tion taxable assessed value
is up 4.1 percent while the
city of Grants Pass taxable
assessed value is up 7.1
percent.
Values in Three Rivers
School District grew at a
rate of 4.95 percent while
values in GP School Dis-
trict 7 grew 5.78 percent.
Measure 5 created a
permanent limitation on
property taxes of $10 per
$1,000 of real market
value for general govern-
ment services, and $5 per
$1,000 of real market
value for education ser-
vices, excluding bonded
debt.
The market value (as
defined in Measure 5) of
taxable property increased
throughout Josephine
County. The total market
value for 2001 was
$4,436,423,374; for 2002
it
increased
to
$4,803,016,923; and for
2003 it increased to
$5,478,773,876.
Generally the assessed
value of a property can
only increase 3 percent
This book presented by
Senior Library Specialist
Jennifer Berubee and is
available at the I.V. Library.
(Public service announcement)
from one year to the next.
The required 3 percent in-
crease is the result of
Measure 50, a Constitu-
tional amendment ap-
proved by voters in 1997.
If there is a new con-
struction, parcel, subdivi-
sion or the removal of a
special assessment, the
assessed value may in-
crease more than 3 percent.
The new construction
or increased real market
value must usually exceed
$10,000 in one year or an
accumulated $25,000
throughout five years to be
added. If it is added, it is
included in the assessed
value at a ratio intended to
reflect the percentage that
assessed value of un-
changed property of the
same class has to market
value.
If a property was val-
ued less than the maximum
assessed value last year,
the assessed value could be
increased more than 3 per-
cent, limited by the real
market value or the maxi-
mum assessed value,
whichever is less. Proper-
ties are not revalued due to
sales or transfers to a new
owner.
Permanent property
tax rates have been calcu-
lated and certified for each
taxing district. In addition
to permanent rates, the
individual districts can
levy, with voter approval,
local option levies and
bond repayment levies.
The local option levies
can be up to five years
unless they are used for
capital construction, and
bond levies are generally
for approximately 20
years. Property owners are
only billed for taxes due to
the districts where the
property is located.
Total tax levies, as-
sessments and fees im-
posed by the State For-
ester’s Office decreased to
$1.0129 this year.
Property owners who
disagree with the value
shown on the bill can ask
the assessor’s office for a
review. Valuation reviews
are to be submitted by
Dec. 12. If the assessor
does not agree with a re-
duction, or the owner is
not satisfied, the owner
may appeal to the Board of
Property Tax Appeals
(BPTA). Appeals to BPTA
must be filed on or before
Dec. 31.
Phone 592-3581
for more information
‘In the Small, Small Pond’
Author & Illustrator: Denise Fleming
Ages: 3 to 6
A story about the creatures that inhabit a small pond.
Simple Reading
Josephine County
Public Health
Day of the Dead ...
(Continued from page 1)
lot of fun,” said Scott Ar-
mijo.
He remembered cele-
brating Day of the Dead as
a small child at his grand-
father’s house in Califor-
nia. Learning about the
tradition in school, he said,
helped make that experi-
ence more meaningful.
The project has also
deeply touched Shaina
Nelson, who had been
close friends with Ty-
grachet Lorentz for almost
eight years when she was
killed in a car accident in
April.
Nelson said photos of
Lorentz will be included in
the student’s Day of the
Dead display at the school.
“So that we can re-
member her,” she said.
The fruits of the stu-
dents’ labors will also be
featured at the next Art
Walk on Friday, Nov. 14.
“It’s cool that people
honor their dead and bring
them back to talk to them,
to have a special day for
CJ Chamber of Commerce bash on Friday, Nov. 7
at 6 p.m. at Wild River Brewing & Pizza Company.
Lumber use to
slow in 2004,
says WWPA
Mild slowdowns in
new home construction
and repair and remodeling
expenditures are expected
to reduce U.S. lumber de-
mand next year, according
to Western Wood Products
Association’s (WWPA)
2004 lumber forecast.
The Portland-based
trade association said U.S.
lumber consumption will
decline 1.8 percent to 55.7
billion board feet (bbf) in
2004. Despite the decrease,
the volume used will be
the third-highest on record.
Lumber demand in 2003 is
expected to hit an all-time
high of 56.7 bbf.
The two largest lumber
use markets -- new home
construction and repair and
remodeling -- will account
for most of the decline in
2004, WWPA said. The
decline will reduce the vol-
ume of lumber used in the
segment to 1.69 million
units. Repair and remodel-
ing usage is anticipated to
decline 3.3 percent.
U.S. lumber produc-
tion is also forecast to ease
by 1.4 percent to 35.7 bbf.
Is offering
FLU SHOTS!
Phone (541) 474-5337
24 hours a day for
information on locations
dates and times.
Cost is $15
Medicare and
Oregon Health Plan
billing available
them,” said Tracie Losey,
who was helping class-
mates Tonya Tyler and
James Guthrie paint an
altar.
Such comments reflect
Niemi’s thoughts about the
authenticity of the project
for the students. That be-
yond learning book knowl-
edge about the festival,
they were able to person-
ally connect with it and
reflect on what they had
experienced.
“They really learned
about a different culture
and a different celebra-
tion,” Niemi said.
The next “Learning
Through Art” project,
“Trash-Formation” will
take place in March.
Editor’s Note: As part
of The Day of the Dead
project, two groups of sev-
enth-graders were given
the responsibility of creat-
ing a press kit for the pro-
ject to be sent to area me-
dia. Some of the articles
written by the students
about the project will ap-
pear in a coming issue).
Elementary Schools Menu
Sponsored by
‘Illinois
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321 S. Redwood Hwy.
THURSDAY, OCT. 30
*Chili cheese Fritos,
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(November menu not
available at press time)
Contributing her efforts to The Day of the Dead pro-
ject, Ziona Hamtil (photo left) studiously decorates a
candle. Seventh-graders in the press kit group (photo
above, clockwise from top) Sara Austin, Kevin Snook,
Tammy Huntamer, Amon Griffin and Sarah Jaentsch
display one of the posters they made for the project.
(Photos by Britt Fairchild)
CONE TEN POTTERY
Halloween Art and Fun Day for Kids!
Friday, October 31
12:30-3:30 p.m.
Clay & Art Projects, Cider Pressing
Sliding scale $5-10/child (Snack Included)
360 Caves Highway
592-4646