Page A6
October 20, 1999
(EFje {lortlmiò (ßbsvruer
The dangers of methamphetamine
by B arbara C imaglio ________
for T he P ortland O bserver
“ I t’s a very bad drug. It ruins your
fam ily and your life.” That warning
about m etham phetamine didn’t come
from a governm ent official or drug-
treatm ent expert, it com es straight
form a meth user. It’s part o fa report
on m etham phetam ine users in five
western cities, including Portland, by
the U.S. D epartm ent o f Justice.
Implied throughout the report is a
theme that 1 take every opportunity
to co m m u n icate to O reg o n ian s:
Parents m ust understand the dangers
o f drugs, and talk to their children if
w e’re going to break the cycle ofdrug
abuse. M eth am p h etam in e, w ith
nicknam es such as meth, crank, zip,
glass, and even “load o f laundry,”
probably is the m ost frightening o f
the illegal drugs because o f the violent
and destructive behavior it so often
causes am ong users. N ew spapers
frequently do articles containing
personal stones o f meth users. They
focus on the dam age m eth does to
families and children, w ho are high
risk for abuse and neglect if a parent
With FHA's new
(Please see " m e th " on p ag e A6)
higher loan limits,
you can buy your
dream home.
Esther Dayman Strong Lectureship in the Humanities andCatlin Gabel School present From Murder to Reconciliation in South
Africa Storytelling and Social Change. As reported on 60 Minutes. Peter and Linda Biehl share theirjoumey from the murder
o f their daughter Amy, beyond theTruth and Reconciliation Commission, toward economic and social change in South Africa.
Thursday, October28,1999 7:30 p.m. Cabell Center theater in theCatlin Gabel School. This presentation isffeeofchargeand
open to the public. For more information, call Peter Eddy, 297-1894, ext. 309.
H o w 's
th a t fo r a h o u s e w a r m in g
g ift?
Property tax statements hit mail this week
CONTRIBUTED STORY
for T he P ortland O bserver
This year M ultnom ah County will
b e g in m a ilin g th e f ir s t o f
ap p ro x im ate ly 259,0 0 0 real and
personal property tax bills on October
19,h. T h e s e s ta te m e n ts h a v e a
N ovem ber 15th due date an d ifp a id in
full w ill receive a three percent
discount.
To receive a discount, paym ent must
be postm arked on or before M onday,
N ovem ber 15,1999. Taxes m ay also
be paid in three installm ents which
are due N ovem ber 15,1999, February
15,2000 and May 15,2000. Taxpayers
are encouraged to pay early to receive
the discount, avoid holiday mailing
d e la y s , a n d a v o id in te r e s t on
delinquent payments.
The total o f all property taxes and
special assessm ents to be collected
for al 1 districts in the County for 1999
is $740.5 million, an increase of3.7%
over last years $713.9 m illion. The
prim ary reasons forthe$26.6m illion
increase are the required 3 percent
increase in assessed value and plus
value added by new construction.
M easure 50 required a roll back o f the
1997-98 assessed value to the 1995-
96 level minus 10%. Each subsequent
year the constitutional am endm ent
allows the Maximum Assessed Value
to increase by 3% annually unless it
exceeds the Real M arket Value o f the
property. Thus the assessed value o f
most properties increased by 3% over
last year. N ew construction or new
additions to a property are specific
types o f ‘exceptions” for which larger
increases in the assessed value are
allowed. The Real M arket V alue o f
these exceptions is reduced to give
the ow ner tax savings sim ilar to
existing properties.
Ballot M easure 5, approved by the
voters in 1990, is still in effect. This
m e a s u re c r e a te d a p e r m a n e n t
limitation on taxes o f $ 10 per $ 1000 o f
Real M arket V alue for education.
W ithin M ultnom ah County, tax rates
on individual statem ent vary because
p ro p erty taxes su p p o rt 54 local
governm ent-taxing districts; m ost o f
w hich have different boundaries.
These districts include education
districts, and various branches o f
local governm ent (cities, the County,
local fire districts, Metro, Tri-M etand
the Port o f Portland).
This year a typical hom e in Portland
w ith a Real M arket V alue o f around
$ 150,000will have an Assessed Value
o f $ 108,470 and will be taxed $2,176,
w hich is a 1.65% increase over last
year. A sim ilarly valued hom e in
To help taxpayers understand w hat
Gresham will pay $ 1,840, an increase
Since 1934 w e've helped over 26 m illion Americans get into new
their tax dollars pay for; M ultnom ah
o f 1.29%.
homes. And starting this year, HUD can help you get a home loan for
County includes an “Im portant Tax
Value change notices are part o f the
I
n
fo
r
m
a
tio
n
”
c
irc
u
la
r
w
ith
all
tax statement. Taxpayers will have
up to $ 208,8 00. Be sure to check with your lender to find out what
statem en ts. T h is en c lo su re also
the opportunity to file value appeals
the FHA-insured loan limits are in your area. We can also help you
includes paym ent instructions and
w ith the B oard o f P roperty Tax
with any questions you might have. Just call 1-8OO-HUDS-FHA and ask
inform ation on the appeal process. In
A ppealsuntilD ecem ber31,1999.The
1 for our free 100 Questions and Answers brochure. It'll tell you how
addition, M ultnom ah County has a
Board will convene on Tuesday,
to
get
an
FHA
loan for as little as 3% down. How to choose the right
g e n e ra l tax in fo rm a tio n p h o n e
February 1, 2000 and hear appeals
number 503-248-3326.
lender. How to prepare yourself for the homebuying process.
through April 15, 2000. Taxpayers
The M ultnom ah County D ivision o f
w ho are concerned that the 1999/
And much more. In fact, if you're looking for a home, it's all
A ssessm ent and Taxation is located
2000 real m arket value a n d o r the
the information you need.
a t4 2 1 S W 6 ,h A venue. Tax paym ents
assessed value is too high m ay contact
H U D and FH A are on your side.
can be m ade on the 3rd Floor, Room
the Board o f Property Tax Appeals at
300.
503-248-5241 to receive a petition for
However, it is recom m ended that
appeal, or a brochure that outlines
1 - 8 0 0 -H U D S -F H A
payments bem ailedtoP.O .B ox2716,
the appeal process. The Board is
Portland,
Oregon
97208-2716.
located at 501 SE H aw thorne Street,
Fourth Floor.
To determine
if their 1999/
2000
re a l
market value
is too high,
ta x p a y e rs
s h o u ld a s k
them selves if
th e y c o u ld
se ll
th e ir
property for
th e
R e al
Market Value
show n on the
\OI V , Í H1< M \
tax bill. Ifnot,
i
th e y
m ay
w ant
to
KJUilAZFD
re /e a rc h
•
» mw nuw« '»
recent sales
nut r r M ozs 0 UR) i .» i k«
in
th e ir
neighborhood
in o rd e r to
support their
In Your Oregonian FOODday
request for a
low er value.
in the Portland Metro Area
M u ltn o m a h
...and save more by shopping
C o u n ty has
sales data at
at Safeway.
th e ir public
12 to 28-oz. O r Assorted varieties.
re se a rc h
Limit 2.
c o u n te rs in
Individually Quick Frozen.
room 309 at
SAVE up to $5.98 on 2
Sold in 4-lb. Bags $6.76 each.
421 SW 6,h
Safeway Club Price
Safeway Club Price
SAVE up to 78< lb.
A venue.
m
N o te :
A
- B „
-
reduction in
th e
re a l
market value
Visit Safeways Web site at
m ay
not
www.safeway.com
Oregon grown.
change your
tax bill unless
PRICES EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1999
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market value
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SAFEWAY
FOOD & DRUG
Look For Your
BONELESS SKJNLESS BREASTS
Safeway Weekly
Shopping Guide
M anor House
Boneless
Skinless Breasts
1.69 lb.
M a rs /H e rs h e y 's
Fun Size C andy
Red and Golden
Delicious Apples
SAVE up to 61< lb.
g js
2dJ
.38
lb.
Safeway Club Price
*
Now the savings are in the Card!