Pay property taxes at Wauna or on-line
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prior to January 1, 2007, was
rural Saint Helens and Warren,
where vacant land values in-
creased by 41 percent. Most of
the remaining residential mar-
ket values in the county in-
creased by an average of 15
percent. However, Poling point-
ed out that property taxes are
based on assessed value, not
market value. The total as-
sessed value this year is
$3,898,081,711 or 8.27 percent
higher than last year. The in-
crease includes the three per-
cent increase in maximum as-
sessed value, plus new con-
struction.
A total of $50,307,931 in
property taxes are being billed
for the county, cities, schools
and special districts, 4.34 per-
cent more than was billed last
year. An additional $1,201,211
will be collected for such things
as drainage districts assess-
ments and the Oregon Depart-
ment of Forestry’s fire patrol
special assessments.
The first payment of the tax
bill is due by November 15.
Payments that are mailed need
to be postmarked by the 15th.
At least one third of the amount
is 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 or May due dates.
Property owners who pay
the entire amount due by No-
vember 15th will receive a
three percent discount. If two
thirds of the bill is paid by No-
vember 15th a two percent dis-
count of the amount paid will be
allowed.
Columbia County property
tax payments can be made with
credit and debit cards on-line at
www.officialpayment.com, or
by calling 1-877-246-3058.
There is a 2.5 percent charge
to use a credit card, or a $3.00
flat fee for debit card use.
Also, as in past years, 2007-
2008 property taxes can be
paid at authorized local finan-
cial institutions through Novem-
ber 15, 2007, at the following:
Wauna Federal Credit Union in
Clatskanie, St. Helens and Ver-
nonia; St. Helens Community
Federal Credit Union, all
branches in Columbia County;
and Bank of the West in St. He-
lens.
Property owners may appeal
the value of their property as in
past years. However, if the ap-
peal results in a lower market
value, there would be a reduc-
tion in the taxes due only if the
market value falls below the as-
sessed value. The deadline for
filing an appeal is December
31, 2007. Appeal forms are
available from the county clerk
or county assessors office.
Community Calendar
VERNONIA
Alcoholics Anonymous
Mondays & Thursdays
6:30 p.m., Head Start Bldg.
American Legion Post #119
2nd Thursday
7:00 p.m., 627 Adams Avenue
Arts & Crafts Society
2nd Thursday
2:00 p.m., City Library
Booster Club
2nd Wednesday
7:00 p.m., VHS Library
Boy Scout Troop 201
Tuesdays
7:00 p.m., Scout Cabin
Boy Scout Troop 860
Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., LDS Church
Cemetery Beautification Comm.
2nd Thursday
6:30 p.m., City Hall
CERT
4th Wednesday
For Info Call 503-429-3018
Chamber of Commerce
2nd Wednesday
For Info Call 503-429-6081
Community Coalition
2nd Monday
12:30 p.m. School District Ofc.
Cub Scout Pack 201
Scout Cabin
For Info Call 503-429-4250
Friends of the Library
1st Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library
Girl Scouts, Neighborhood 4-2
For Info Call 503-819-0143
Hands On Art Committee
1st & 3rd Thursdays
4:00 p.m., City Hall
Izaak Walton League
3rd Thursday
For location call 503-429-7193
Lions Club
1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., Buckhorn Restaurant
Municipal Airport Committee
4th Thursday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Narcotics Anonymous
Saturdays
7:00 p.m., Head Start Bldg.
Pioneer Museum
For Info Call 503-429-3713
Public Works Committee
4th Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Cares Directors
For Info call 503-429-1414
Vernonia City Council
1st & 3rd Mondays
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Community PTA
3rd Thursday
7:00 p.m., WGS Library
Vernonia Grange
3rd Monday
7:00 p.m., Grange Hall
Vernonia Health Center
2nd Monday
6:00 p.m., 510 Bridge St.
Vernonia Learning Center
1st Wednesday
6:00 p.m., VLC
Vernonia Parks Committee
3rd Wednesday
6:30 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Planning Comm.
1st & 3rd Thursdays
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Pride
3rd Thursday
1:00 p.m., City Hall
Vernonia Ridge Riders
Last Thursday
7:00 p.m., Senior Center
Vernonia RFPD Board
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
Vernonia School Board
2nd Thursday
6:00 p.m., District Office
Vernonia Sr. Center Board
2nd Friday
1:00 p.m., Senior Center
Vernonia Transfer Station
2nd & 4th Saturdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Behind VHS
Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st Thursday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters
2nd Monday
7:00 p.m., Fire Station
WOEC Directors
3rd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., WOEC
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Farm loans for women, minorities
The Washington/Columbia
County Farm Service Agency
(FSA) has announced they
have loan funds available to
help qualified women and mi-
norities buy and operate family-
sized farms. FSA reserves a
portion of its loan guarantee
funds to assist socially disad-
vantaged applicants.
Socially
disadvantaged
groups are those whose mem-
bers have been subjected to
racial, ethnic or gender preju-
dice because of their identity as
members of the group without
regard to their individual quali-
ties. For purpose of FSA’s loan
programs, socially disadvan-
taged groups are women,
African Americans, American
Indians, Alaskan Natives, His-
panics, Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders.
FSA’s loan and loan guaran-
tee funds are available to indi-
viduals and entities that are pri-
marily and directly engaged in
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farming and ranching on family
-sized operations. Farm owner-
ship loan funds are available to
help purchase a farm or ranch.
To qualify, the applicant must
have participated in the busi-
ness operation of a farm or
ranch for at least three years.
For those applicants who
have at least one year’s experi-
ence in managing or operating
a farm or ranch, funds are
available to help with the pur-
chase of livestock, machinery
and equipment, as well as an-
nual production expenses.
Information is available on
the Oregon State FSA website
at www.fsa.usda/or/. or by call-
ing 503-648-3174, ext. 2.
Turkeys are needed
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tion is 10-12 pounds. One hun-
dred percent of donations stay
in the community and all dona-
tions are tax deductible.
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MIST-BIRKENFELD
M-BRFPD Board Business Mtg.
2nd Tuesday
M-BRFPD Board Workshop
4th Tuesday
M-B Ambulance Drill
1st & 2nd Thursdays
M-B Fire Drill
1st & 2nd Wednesdays
M-B Helping Circle
2nd Monday
M-B SAR Drill
3rd Wednesday
M-B Volunteer Assoc.
1st Tuesday
Natal Grange
2nd Wednesday
T.O.P.S.
Mondays
Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-2401
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7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:30 p.m., Natal Grange Hall
6:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station
BANKS
Alcoholics Anonymous
Fridays
7:30 p.m., Methodist Church
Alcoholics Anonymous
Wednesdays
7:30 p.m., Methodist Church
American Legion Post #90
2nd Tuesdays
7:30 p.m., Main Street Post
Banks City Council
2nd Tuesday
7:30 p.m., City Hall
Banks Fire District #13
2nd Wednesday
7:00 p.m., Station 13
Banks Library Commission
3rd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Library
Banks Planning Commission
Last Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Hall
Banks School Board
2nd Monday
7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library
Banks Youth Group
Sundays, Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg.
Chamber of Commerce
1st Thursday
12:30 p.m., Fire District Office
CPO 14
3rd Monday
7:00 p.m., City Library
Friends of the Library
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., City Library
Lions Club
1st & 3rd Mondays
7:00 p.m., Brown Derby
Sunset Park Assoc.
3rd Wednesday
8:00 p.m., Gun Club
T.O.P.S.
Wednesdays
7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg.
COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.)
Board of Commissioners
Wednesdays
10 a.m., Courthouse
Citizens for Senior Justice
2nd Tuesday
7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church
Columbia Soil & Water District
3rd Wednesday
7:30 p.m., NRCS , 2514 Sykes
County Fair Board
2nd Monday
7:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg.
County Parks Commission
3rd Monday
6:00 p.m., 1054 Oregon St.
Mental Health Advisory Comm.
3rd Tuesday
10 a.m., 2nd Floor, Courthouse
Comm. on Children & Families
3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 550 N. Hwy. 30
Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm. 2nd Tuesday
3:00 p.m., 2nd Floor, Courthouse
Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410 or by mail to
The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.