Page 12
The INDEPENDENT, November 1, 2000
Forest land and
utilities increase
in value
From page 1
since the completion of the
Fred Meyer retail complex
south of town.
County wide, total assessed
value is $2,804,727,094 or
9.38 percent higher than last
year. The $240 million-plus in
crease is due to the three per
cent increase allowed under
Measure 50, new construction,
a $41.50 million increase in
utility value and a $64 million
increase in the value of certain
forest land.
Taxing districts in the Ne
halem Valley and Clatskanie
will benefit the most from these
value increases, particularly
the increase in forest land val
ues and steep increases in the
value of PGE’s Beaver power
generating facility Clatskanie
and NW Natural’s new natural
gas pipeline from Mist to Wash
ington County.
Rainier area taxing districts
will again see revenues de
crease due to a loss of nearly
$16 million of utility value for
the Trojan Nuclear Power
Plant. A recent decision by the
Oregon Public Utility Commis
sion which prohibits PGE from
including the cost of Trojan in
the rates it charges, will likely
mean the value of Trojan will
drop to near zero for the 2001-
02 tax year. The plant’s current
value is $227,025,300 with
property taxes of $2,099,371.
County wide, the market val
ue of all taxable property in
creased from $3.21 Billion to
$3.50 Billion, an increase of
9.14 percent. Rural Clatskanie
properties appreciated in value
nine percent, but the value of
most residential property in
creased two-six percent.
Despite the increases in
market value, property taxes
are based on assessed values
limited by Ballot Measure 50.
Measure 50, approved in May
1997, reduced assessed val
ues for the 1997-98 tax year to
the 1995-96 market value, less
10 percent. Each year after
1997-98, the assessed value is
limited to a 3 percent increase,
unless the property is im
proved, subdivided, re-zoned
or disqualified from special as
sessment or exemption.
The first payment of the tax
bill is due by November 15 with
at least one third of the amount
due at that time. The second
and third installments are due
by February 15 and May 15,
however, the County does not
send out statements for the
February and May payments.
A three percent discount is
applied if the entire amount
due is paid by November 15. If
two thirds of the bill is paid by
November 15, a two percent
discount of the amount paid will
be allowed.
Payments can be made at
any branch of the St. Helens
Federal Community Credit
Union, all branches of Western
Bank and the St. Helens
branch of Bank of the West.
However, if taxes are owed
from previous years, payment
cannot be taken by the banks.
Paving of the Banks-Vernonia Linear Park extension from
Anderson Park to Lake Vernonia went quickly and smoothly
as the contractor, Chief Excavation, Inc., was able to take
advantage of nearly perfect weather in late October. Trucks
backed down the trail from the junction at the transfer sta
tion with each load of asphalt that was delivered.
Property taxes may be appealed
Property owners may appeal the value of their prop
erty, as in prior years. However, if the appeal results in
a lower market value, there would be a reduction in the
taxes due only if the market value falls below the as
sessed value.
The deadline for filing an appeal is January 2,
2001. Appeal forms are available from the offices of
the county clerk or the county assessor.
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