Frequently Asked Questions

Mortgage companies notify us by September 1st which accounts they expect to pay taxes on. Any changes between that time and Nov. 15 are not reflected in our records. If you have any questions regarding who is paying your property taxes, we suggest you contact your new mortgage company. Please remember, you are ultimately responsible for paying your taxes timely.

The Oregon Department of Forestry protects nearly 16 million acres — mostly private lands — from wildfire. Forestland owners in the North Cascade Fire Protection District will see the fire protection assessment with a minimum cost of $18.75 ($1.3572 per acre) and the surcharge for improved properties $47.50. For more information, you may contact the Clackamas County district office in Molalla at 14995 S Hwy 211 in Molalla. Their phone number is 503-829-2216.

The assessment date for all property is January 1. This means new construction is valued at the percent completed on January 1. If 50% complete, then a house is valued at half its market value, and the assessed value for tax purposes is adjusted to include this market addition using the Measure 50 rules. If construction on your house was started after January 1, then you will pay tax only on the land until the following year

The new improvements will be appraised at market value. The new taxable value is computed by adjusting the new additions market value with the Measure 50 rules. This gives new property a similar adjustment to other property that received the Measure 50 assessed value roll back.

The Assessor's office does not automatically adjust market value to the selling price of a property. We consider all sales that occur in a neighborhood to arrive at a market value. The Assessor also uses a complex recalculation and sales analysis program to annually update market values.

The real market value (RMV) on your tax statement represents the market value of the property as of January 1, each year. This is the estimate of value the property would have sold for on that date. It is important to understand that your property taxes are based on your assessed value, not market value. In most cases assessed values are significantly lower than market values. A decline in the market value does not automatically reduce your Measure 50 assessed value unless real market value falls below your maximum assessed value.

The assessed value (AV) on your tax statement is the value used to calculate your property taxes. For most property, the maximum assessed value was established in 1997 under Measure 50 by taking 90% of the 1995–96 market value and has continued to grow by 3% annually. If you have new construction, remodeling or additions to your property, the assessed value may increase more than the typical 3%. These are examples of exceptions to Measure 50 that allow the property's assessed value to grow more than the typical 3%. New construction, additions and remodeled properties do receive a Measure 50 benefit similar to existing property. The market value of the new construction is reduced by the ratio of the maximum assessed value to real market value of similar classes of property calculated county-wide. Once a new assessed value is established, it then continues to grow by the annual 3% increase required by Measure 50.