Chapter 306 — Property Taxation Generally

2023 EDITION

PROPERTY TAXATION GENERALLY

REVENUE AND TAXATION

GENERAL PROVISIONS

306.005 Property tax law definitions applicable in charter counties

SUPERVISION OF PROPERTY TAX ADMINISTRATION BY DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

306.113 Legislative findings

306.115 General supervision over property tax system; correction of assessment or tax rolls

306.117 Property tax services emergencies

306.120 Uniform methods of assessment and collection; continuing study of equalization

306.126 Appraisal of industrial property by department; delegation to county assessors; minimum duration; rules

306.132 Oregon Land Information System Fund

306.135 Base map system; Oregon Land Information System Advisory Committee

306.150 Inservice training for assessors and tax collectors

306.152 Training session for property value appeals board pools

306.220 Compliance of public officers with laws and orders affecting property taxes

306.245 Standard forms for tax statement and personal property tax return

306.255 Information for taxpayers concerning property taxes, appraisals and appeals

306.265 Electronic filing of exemption and special assessment applications; rules

PROPERTY TAX EXPENDITURE FUNDING

306.350 Legislative findings and declarations

306.353 Property tax expenditures to be funded

306.356 Property Tax Expenditure Funding Account

306.359 Procedures for determining property tax expenditure funding payments

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

306.805 Service of orders of department

306.815 Tax on transfer of real property prohibited; exceptions

GENERAL PROVISIONS

306.005 Property tax law definitions applicable in charter counties. As used in the laws of this state relating to the assessment, levy, collection and review of ad valorem taxes, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Assessor” includes, in a county having a county charter, the individual or officer performing thereunder the duties imposed upon assessors with respect to ad valorem taxes by the laws of this state.

(2) “Clerk” or “county clerk” includes, in a county having a county charter, the individual or officer performing thereunder the duties imposed upon county clerks with respect to ad valorem taxes by the laws of this state.

(3) “Court” or “county court” includes, in a county having a county charter, the body performing thereunder the duties imposed upon county courts with respect to ad valorem taxes by the laws of this state.

(4) “Sheriff” includes, in a county having a county charter, the individual or officer performing thereunder the duties imposed upon sheriffs with respect to ad valorem taxes by the laws of this state.

(5) “Tax collector” includes, in a county having a county charter, the individual or officer performing thereunder the duties imposed upon tax collectors with respect to ad valorem taxes by the laws of this state.

(6) “Treasurer” includes, in a county having a county charter, the individual or officer performing thereunder the duties imposed upon treasurers with respect to ad valorem taxes by the laws of this state. [1963 c.238 §15]

306.006 [2003 c.655 §47b; repealed by 2019 c.585 §31]

306.010 [Amended by 1961 c.573 §1; renumbered 305.010]

306.020 [Amended by 1953 c.381 §4; renumbered 305.020]

306.030 [Renumbered 305.030]

306.040 [Subsections (2), (3) and (4) of 1959 Replacement Part enacted as 1957 c.632 §28 (subsections (2), (3) and (4) of 306.040 enacted in lieu of 316.710); subsection (5) of 1959 Replacement Part derived from 1957 c.632 §2; renumbered 305.040]

306.050 [Amended by 1959 c.492 §4; renumbered 305.050]

306.060 [Renumbered 305.060]

306.070 [Renumbered 305.070]

306.080 [Renumbered 305.080]

306.090 [Renumbered 305.090]

306.100 [Renumbered 305.100]

306.110 [Renumbered 305.110]

306.111 [Formerly 306.130; repealed by 1983 c.605 §6]

SUPERVISION OF PROPERTY TAX ADMINISTRATION BY DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

306.113 Legislative findings. The Legislative Assembly finds that for the property tax system to function appropriately it is essential that administration be results-based, innovative and efficient. Any direction to, or review of, county administration by the State of Oregon shall carry out this finding. [1997 c.782 §1]

Note: 306.113 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 306 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

306.115 General supervision over property tax system; correction of assessment or tax rolls. (1) The Department of Revenue shall exercise general supervision and control over the system of property taxation throughout the state. The department may do any act or give any order to any public officer or employee that the department deems necessary in the administration of the property tax laws so that all properties are taxed or are exempted from taxation according to the statutes and Constitutions of the State of Oregon and of the United States. Among other acts or orders deemed necessary by the department in exercising its supervisory powers, the department may order the correction of clerical errors, errors in valuation or the correction of any other kind of error or omission in an assessment or tax roll as provided under subsections (2) to (4) of this section.

(2) The department may order a change or correction to the assessment or tax roll for the current tax year applicable to all real or personal property of the same class or in the same area if the order of the department is mailed not later than October 15 of the current tax year.

(3) The department may order a change or correction applicable to a separate assessment of property to the assessment or tax roll for the current tax year and for either of the two tax years immediately preceding the current tax year if for the year to which the change or correction is applicable the department discovers reason to correct the roll which, in its discretion, it deems necessary to conform the roll to applicable law without regard to any failure to exercise a right of appeal.

(4) Before ordering a change or correction to the assessment or tax roll under subsection (3) of this section, the department may determine whether any of the conditions specified in subsection (3) of this section exist in a particular case. If the department determines that one of the conditions specified does exist, the department shall hold a conference to determine whether to order a change or correction in the roll.

(5) For purposes of this section, “current tax year” means the tax year in which the need for the change or correction is brought to the attention of the department.

(6) The remedies provided under this section are in addition to all other remedies provided by law. [1983 c.605 §1; 1985 c.613 §18; 1987 c.656 §1; 1989 c.171 §42; 1991 c.5 §20; 1991 c.459 §32; 1995 c.650 §66; 1997 c.541 §89]

306.116 [1991 c.459 §32a; 1995 c.650 §66a; 1997 c.541 §91,92; renumbered 305.288 in 1997]

306.117 Property tax services emergencies. (1) If the governing body of a county believes that the county is in a state of fiscal distress that compromises the county’s ability to provide a minimally adequate level of property tax assessment services or property tax collection services, the governing body may request that the Governor declare a property tax assessment services emergency, a property tax collection services emergency or both.

(2) Upon request pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the Governor shall consult with the Director of the Department of Revenue to determine whether to declare a property tax assessment services emergency, a property tax collection services emergency or both.

(3) Within 14 days after consultation with the director pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the Governor shall:

(a) Declare the existence of a property tax assessment services emergency, a property tax collection services emergency or both in the county; or

(b) Issue a determination that the county’s fiscal situation does not cause the county to provide a less than minimally adequate level of property tax assessment services or property tax collection services, as applicable.

(4) As soon as practicable after declaration of an emergency under subsection (3)(a) of this section and after consultation with the tax assessor and tax collector of the county, the Department of Revenue shall provide services in the county to the extent necessary to ensure a minimally adequate level of property tax assessment services, property tax collection services or both to all municipal corporations in the county.

(5)(a) When an emergency is declared in a county pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section, the department shall immediately:

(A) Discontinue grants to the county from the County Assessment Function Funding Assistance Account created under ORS 294.184; and

(B) Notify the State Treasurer to discontinue all distributions to the county of state-shared funds that are not otherwise dedicated by law.

(b) Within 30 days following the close of each fiscal quarter, the department shall submit to the governing body of the county and the Secretary of State an itemized statement of the department’s actual costs incurred in providing services in the county and the amount of the grants that the county would have received, but for this subsection, from the County Assessment Function Funding Assistance Account for the period covered by the statement.

(c) The department shall be reimbursed for the costs in the statement submitted under paragraph (b) of this subsection as follows:

(A) The department shall transfer to the Assessment and Taxation County Account described in ORS 306.125 the amount of grant funds that would have been distributed to the county from the County Assessment Function Funding Assistance Account for the period covered by the statement; and

(B) If the amount transferred under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph is less than the department’s stated costs, the State Treasurer, upon the order of the Secretary of State, shall transfer to the Assessment and Taxation County Account all state-shared funds not otherwise dedicated by law that, but for this subsection, would have been distributed to the county for the period covered by the statement.

(d) If the amounts received by the department under paragraph (c) of this subsection are less than the department’s stated costs for the period covered by the statement submitted under paragraph (b) of this subsection, the department shall seek reimbursement of the remaining costs, and such additional spending authority as the department considers necessary to carry out its duties under this section, from the Emergency Board.

(6) At any time after declaration of an emergency pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section, the governing body of the county or the director may request that the Governor, after consultation with the director, issue a determination pursuant to subsection (3)(b) of this section.

(7) The county shall resume providing property tax assessment services and property tax collection services, as applicable, to all municipal corporations in the county on the earlier of:

(a) The date on which a determination is issued pursuant to subsection (6) of this section; or

(b) Two years after the date on which an emergency is declared in the county pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section. [2013 c.730 §4]

Note: 306.117 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 306 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

306.120 Uniform methods of assessment and collection; continuing study of equalization. The Department of Revenue shall:

(1) Issue regulations, bulletins, manuals, instructions and directions to county assessors, county property value appeals boards and tax collectors as to the methods best calculated to secure uniformity according to law, in the system of assessment and collection of taxes.

(2) Carry on a continuing study with the object of equalizing for the purposes of assessment and taxation property values within the counties and between the counties. [Amended by 1997 c.541 §94; 2023 c.29 §9]

Note: The amendments to 306.120 by section 9, chapter 29, Oregon Laws 2023, become operative July 1, 2024. See section 43, chapter 29, Oregon Laws 2023. The text that is operative until July 1, 2024, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

306.120. The Department of Revenue shall:

(1) Issue regulations, bulletins, manuals, instructions and directions to county assessors, county boards of property tax appeals and tax collectors as to the methods best calculated to secure uniformity according to law, in the system of assessment and collection of taxes.

(2) Carry on a continuing study with the object of equalizing for the purposes of assessment and taxation property values within the counties and between the counties.

306.123 [1955 c.232 §1; repealed by 1963 c.84 §2]

306.125 Department of Revenue property tax appraisal programs; maintenance of record systems for assessors and tax collectors; county expense sharing agreements; Assessment and Taxation County Account. (1) The Department of Revenue is authorized to institute programs for the appraisal of property in counties of the state and to make appraisals for the use of county assessors and property value appeals boards in assessing property and reviewing assessment rolls, and may install, and assist in the preparation and maintenance of, maps, plats or standardized record systems, as prescribed by the department, in the offices of assessors and tax collectors.

(2) The department and county courts are authorized to enter into agreements for the sharing of the expenses of such appraisals and installations including salaries and expenses of department employees engaged therein.

(3) Counties entering into agreements pursuant to this section may pay to the Department of Revenue from time to time:

(a) Moneys to be disbursed by the department as part of the county’s share in the expenses authorized under this section and agreed to under such agreements; and

(b) Moneys to reimburse the department where department disbursements under such agreements, whether from the department’s appropriations from the State General Fund or from moneys credited to the Assessment and Taxation County Account, have exceeded its proportionate share of expenses and a rebalancing of expense-sharing accounts is deemed desirable or necessary.

(4)(a) All moneys received by the Department of Revenue under subsection (3) of this section shall be immediately turned over to the State Treasurer, who shall deposit the moneys in the General Fund to the credit of an account to be known as the Assessment and Taxation County Account, and such account hereby is continuously appropriated to the Department of Revenue for the purposes of this section and ORS 306.117.

(b) The Department of Revenue may use the moneys to the credit of the Assessment and Taxation County Account, or any part thereof, for expenditures in connection with appraisals and installations contracted for, including cash advances for travel and living expenses of employees, and including payments to any county made to rebalance expense-sharing accounts, from time to time, where a county’s disbursements under agreements entered into pursuant to this section have exceeded its proportionate share of expenses under such agreement. Any moneys received in reimbursement of these cash advances shall be deposited in the Assessment and Taxation County Account. Refunds of unexpended receipts may be made to the counties. [1953 c.232 §1; 1959 c.115 §1; 1963 c.84 §1; 1985 c.604 §6; 1997 c.541 §95; 2005 c.94 §29; 2013 c.730 §5; 2023 c.29 §10]

Note: The amendments to 306.125 by section 10, chapter 29, Oregon Laws 2023, become operative July 1, 2024. See section 43, chapter 29, Oregon Laws 2023. The text that is operative until July 1, 2024, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

306.125. (1) The Department of Revenue is authorized to institute programs for the appraisal of property in counties of the state and to make appraisals for the use of county assessors and boards of property tax appeals in assessing property and reviewing assessment rolls, and may install, and assist in the preparation and maintenance of, maps, plats or standardized record systems, as prescribed by the department, in the offices of assessors and tax collectors.

(3) Counties entering into agreements pursuant to this section may pay to the Department of Revenue from time to time:

(a) Moneys to be disbursed by the department as part of the county’s share in the expenses authorized under this section and agreed to under such agreements; and

306.126 Appraisal of industrial property by department; delegation to county assessors; minimum duration; rules. (1) As used in this section:

(a) “County-appraised industrial property” means:

(A) Any unit of industrial property if the improvements of the property have a real market value of $1 million or less on the assessment roll for the preceding year; and

(B) Any unit of industrial property for which the appraisal responsibility has been delegated to the county assessor under subsection (3) of this section.

(b)(A) “State-appraised industrial property” means any unit of industrial property if the improvements of the property have a real market value of more than $1 million on the assessment roll for the preceding year.

(B) “State-appraised industrial property” does not mean property for which the appraisal responsibility has been delegated to a county assessor under subsection (3) of this section.

(2)(a) The Department of Revenue shall appraise each state-appraised industrial property situated within each county and advise the county assessor of the real market value of the property and the property’s net improvements. Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, no part of the cost of the appraisal shall be borne by the county. The cost of the appraisal shall be reimbursed from the County Assessment Function Funding Assistance Account as provided under ORS 294.184.

(b) The department shall advise the assessor of the values determined under this subsection by a date that is determined to give the assessor sufficient time to prepare the assessment roll.

(3)(a) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, upon request of the county assessor, the department may delegate to the county assessor the department’s responsibility for making the appraisals of state-appraised industrial property required under subsection (2) of this section.

(b) A request by the county assessor under this subsection must be made prior to January 1 for the following assessment year and must be accompanied by any information required by the department.

(c) If responsibility is delegated under this subsection, the entire cost of making the appraisals delegated shall be borne by the county.

(d) No appeal may be taken from any determination of the department under this subsection.

(4)(a) Once the responsibility for making appraisals of a state-appraised industrial property is delegated to the county assessor under subsection (3) of this section, the property shall remain a county-appraised industrial property for five consecutive assessment years.

(b) After five consecutive assessment years, the industrial property shall remain a county-appraised industrial property until the county assessor requests the department to resume responsibility for appraising the property. Upon the request of the county assessor, the property shall revert to a state-appraised industrial property as of the next following assessment year.

(5) The department may adopt any rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(6) The department may adopt an appraisal schedule that promotes the efficient use of its resources. [1955 c.231 §1; 1957 c.589 §1; 1963 c.85 §1; 1989 c.796 §20; 1991 c.459 §33; 1997 c.325 §17; 1997 c.541 §96; 2001 c.303 §15; 2015 c.36 §1]

306.127 [1955 c.230 §1; repealed by 1963 c.225 §2]

306.128 [1955 c.230 §2; 1957 c.589 §2; repealed by 1963 c.225 §2]

306.129 [1957 c.589 §3; 1975 c.789 §11; 1977 c.884 §5; repealed by 1977 c.884 §32]

306.130 [Renumbered 306.111]

306.132 Oregon Land Information System Fund. (1) The Oregon Land Information System Fund is created, separate and distinct from the General Fund.

(2) Moneys in the Oregon Land Information System Fund are continuously appropriated to the Department of Revenue for the purpose of funding a base map system to be used in administering the ad valorem property tax system. [1999 c.701 §7]

Note: 306.132 and 306.135 were enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but were not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 306 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

306.135 Base map system; Oregon Land Information System Advisory Committee. (1) The Department of Revenue shall develop a base map system to facilitate and improve the administration of the ad valorem property tax system.

(2) In developing the base map system, the department shall be advised by an advisory committee that is hereby created and that shall be known as the Oregon Land Information System Advisory Committee. The advisory committee shall advise the department concerning the administrative and public needs related to the development of the base map system.

(3) The advisory committee shall consist of individuals appointed to the committee by the Director of the Department of Revenue. [1999 c.701 §8]

Note: See note under 306.132.

306.140 [Renumbered 305.120]

306.150 Inservice training for assessors and tax collectors. (1) The Department of Revenue shall carry on at its own expense a program of inservice training for the assessors and tax collectors of the various counties:

(a) By periodically distributing to them bulletins prepared and published by the department pertaining to the principles and practices of assessment, apportionment, levy and collection of public taxes;

(b) By periodically distributing to them lists of selected readings in the fields of assessment and taxation; and

(c) By establishing and conducting such classes of instruction for county assessors and tax collectors in the principles and practices of assessment and collection of public taxes as in the opinion of the Director of the Department of Revenue may be expedient and beneficial to the needs of the state and the advancement of the tax assessing and tax collecting professions.

(2) The director may call one meeting each year of the several county assessors and may provide for the payment of the necessary traveling expenses of the assessors in attending the meeting. [Amended by 1969 c.520 §29; 2003 c.46 §9]

306.152 Training session for property value appeals board pools. Once each year the Department of Revenue shall conduct a training session of not more than four days’ duration dedicated to the schooling of persons whose names appear in the pools described in ORS 309.067 in the functions of the property value appeals board. [1955 c.709 §5; 1993 c.270 §24; 1995 c.226 §8; 1997 c.541 §97; 2023 c.29 §11]

Note: The amendments to 306.152 by section 11, chapter 29, Oregon Laws 2023, become operative July 1, 2024. See section 43, chapter 29, Oregon Laws 2023. The text that is operative until July 1, 2024, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

306.152. Once each year the Department of Revenue shall conduct a training session of not more than four days’ duration dedicated to the schooling of persons whose names appear in the pools described in ORS 309.067 in the functions of the board of property tax appeals.

306.160 [Renumbered 305.160]

306.170 [Renumbered 305.170]

306.180 [Renumbered 305.615]

306.190 [Amended by 1955 c.610 §3; renumbered 305.190]

306.200 [Renumbered 305.200]

306.210 [Renumbered 305.210]

306.220 Compliance of public officers with laws and orders affecting property taxes. (1) Every public officer shall comply with any lawful order, rule or regulation of the Department of Revenue made under ORS 306.115, 308.335 or 309.400.

(2) Whenever it appears to the department that any public officer or employee whose duties relate to the assessment or equalization of assessments of property for taxation has failed to comply with any law relating to such duties, or the rules of the department made in pursuance thereof, the department, after an informal conference on the facts, may direct the public officer or employee to comply with such law or rule.

(3) If the public officer or employee, for a period of 10 days after service on the public officer or employee of the department’s direction, neglects or refuses to comply therewith, the department may apply to the Oregon Tax Court for an order, returnable within five days from the date thereof, to compel the public officer or employee to comply with the law or rule, or to show cause why the public officer or employee should not be compelled so to do.

(4) Any order issued by the judge pursuant thereto shall be final.

(5) The remedy provided in this section shall be cumulative and shall not preclude the department from exercising any power or rights delegated to it. [Amended by 1983 c.605 §4; 1993 c.18 §67; 1995 c.650 §69; 1999 c.21 §13]

306.230 [Renumbered 305.055]

306.235 [1953 c.708 §8; renumbered 306.805]

306.240 [Renumbered 305.605]

306.245 Standard forms for tax statement and personal property tax return. (1) In order to achieve uniformity in assessment and collection of property taxes throughout the state, the Department of Revenue shall prescribe a form for use by counties using automated data processing equipment and a form for use by counties not using automated data processing equipment for each of the following categories:

(a) The tax statement referred to in ORS 311.250.

(b) The personal property tax return referred to in ORS 308.290.

(2) Counties must use the forms prescribed by the department under subsection (1) of this section.

(3) In prescribing the forms under subsection (1) of this section, the department shall consult with the appropriate county officers and employees and shall take into account the equipment available in each county.

(4) The department shall provide and shall bear the cost of each category of form described in subsection (1) of this section for each year in which the county uses the form prescribed under subsection (1) of this section for the category. [1979 c.241 §52; 1981 c.804 §110; 1987 c.158 §178; 1991 c.459 §34; 2003 c.400 §1]

306.250 [Renumbered 305.610]

306.255 Information for taxpayers concerning property taxes, appraisals and appeals. (1) The county assessor shall provide and make available to taxpayers, upon request, the following information:

(a) An explanation of the ad valorem property tax system, including but not limited to the manner in which the amount of ad valorem property tax is determined, the manner in which the taxpayer’s share of that tax is determined and the manner in which the limitations on the amount of that tax is determined.

(b) An explanation of the methods of appraisal generally and, if of interest to the taxpayer, the method or methods of valuation of the type of property with which the taxpayer is concerned.

(c) A general explanation of the manner in which to appeal the value of property and a description of the kind of information that may be needed to present an appeal.

(2) The Department of Revenue shall prepare written materials concerning each of the subjects identified in subsection (1) of this section and make those materials available to the county assessors and to individual taxpayers upon request. [1991 c.903 §6]

306.260 [Renumbered 305.755]

306.265 Electronic filing of exemption and special assessment applications; rules. (1) If an exemption or special assessment of property that is otherwise subject to assessment and taxation requires the filing of a written application with the Department of Revenue or a county assessor in order to be granted, the department may prescribe rules that permit the filing of the application and related written material, including signatures and verifications, by electronic means and may prescribe the conditions and requirements that must be met in order for an electronic filing to constitute a valid application for exemption or special assessment.

(2) No application for exemption or special assessment that is filed electronically shall constitute a valid application unless the department has identified by rule that the exemption or special assessment is one for which electronically filed applications may be accepted. [1997 c.154 §10]

306.270 [Renumbered 305.760]

306.280 [Renumbered 305.765]

306.290 [Renumbered 305.770]

306.300 [Renumbered 305.775]

306.310 [Renumbered 305.780]

306.320 [Renumbered 305.785]

306.330 [Renumbered 306.810]

306.340 [1953 c.310 §2; renumbered 305.805]

PROPERTY TAX EXPENDITURE FUNDING

306.350 Legislative findings and declarations. (1) The Legislative Assembly finds that:

(a) As a result of section 11, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution, every property tax exemption or special assessment granted by the Legislative Assembly reduces local resources available for local public services.

(b) The Legislative Assembly creates property tax exemptions and special assessments, but cities, counties and special districts bear the cost of those exemptions in forgone property tax revenues.

(2) The Legislative Assembly declares that adverse consequences to cities, counties and special districts may be eliminated by:

(a) Providing state funding for new exemptions and special assessments or new expansions of existing exemptions and special assessments; or

(b) Reducing or eliminating other existing exemptions at the time exemptions are created or expanded. [1999 c.821 §1]

Note: 306.350 to 306.359 were enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but were not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 306 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

306.353 Property tax expenditures to be funded. (1) If, for tax years beginning on or after July 1, 2001, a new property tax expenditure is created, or an existing property tax expenditure is expanded, 50 percent of the amount of the property tax revenues of a city, county or special district that are forgone as a result of the new expenditure or expansion shall be funded by amounts appropriated to the Property Tax Expenditure Funding Account established under ORS 306.356.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section applies:

(a) Only to the operating taxes, as defined in ORS 310.055, of the city, county or special district.

(b) To the extent that the legislative Act creating the new expenditure or expansion also did not offset the loss of revenue by repealing or restricting one or more property tax expenditures that were in effect for the tax year immediately prior to the tax year in which the new expenditure or expansion first applies.

(3) As used in ORS 306.353 to 306.359:

(a) “Property tax expenditure” or “expenditure” means a property tax exemption or special assessment of the assessed value of property for ad valorem property tax purposes.

(b) “Special district” does not include a taxing district that imposes property taxes for the purpose of funding the public school system.

(4) Legislation that extends the applicability or operative period of a property tax expenditure is not subject to the provisions of ORS 306.353 to 306.359.

(5) Legislation that authorizes a local taxing district to exempt a class of property from the taxes of that local taxing district is not subject to the provisions of ORS 306.353 to 306.359. [1999 c.821 §2]

Note: See note under 306.350.

306.356 Property Tax Expenditure Funding Account. The Property Tax Expenditure Funding Account is created in the General Fund. Amounts appropriated to the Property Tax Expenditure Funding Account for the biennium are continuously appropriated to the Department of Revenue for the purpose of making property tax expenditure funding payments as provided in ORS 306.359. [1999 c.821 §3]

Note: See note under 306.350.

306.359 Procedures for determining property tax expenditure funding payments. (1)(a) As soon as is practicable after the end of the regular session of the Legislative Assembly, the Department of Revenue shall determine the new expenditures and expansions that are subject to the funding requirements of ORS 306.353.

(b) If an expansion of an existing property tax expenditure is subject to the funding requirements of ORS 306.353, the department shall calculate a cost adjustment factor. The factor shall be a fraction, the numerator of which is the estimated statewide amount of forgone property taxes attributable to the expenditure for the year for which the determination is being made minus the estimated statewide amount of forgone property taxes attributable to the expenditure for the tax year immediately prior to the expansion. The denominator shall be the estimated statewide amount of forgone property taxes attributable to the expenditure for the year for which the determination is being made.

(A) The expenditures that are subject to the funding requirements of ORS 306.353 because the expenditures are new expenditures; and

(B) The expenditures that are subject to the funding requirements of ORS 306.353 because the expenditures are newly expanded expenditures, along with each newly expanded expenditure’s corresponding cost adjustment factor.

(2) Each county assessor shall estimate the amount of forgone property taxes of the county and of each city and special district in the county for each expenditure listed by the department. If a cost adjustment factor is applicable to the expenditure, the county assessor shall multiply the forgone property tax attributable to the expenditure by the expenditure’s cost adjustment factor. After taking into account cost adjustment factors, the county assessor shall determine the total amount of forgone property taxes from expenditures listed by the department in subsection (1)(c) of this section and shall certify the total amount so determined for the county and for each city and special district in the county to the department. Certification shall be made on or before October 25 of the tax year.

(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) of this section, the department shall pay 50 percent of the amounts certified by the county assessor to the county and to the cities and special districts in the county.

(4) If payments are being made for the first fiscal year of the biennium, the department shall use no more than 50 percent of the Property Tax Expenditure Funding Account balance to make payments under this section.

(5) If the amount of moneys available to make payments under this section is less than the total amount being certified by all county assessors, the payments made under subsection (3) of this section shall be proportionally reduced so that the state does not accrue a debt in excess of the amount available for payment. [1999 c.821 §4]

Note: See note under 306.350.

306.410 [1953 c.211 §1; renumbered 305.810]

306.420 [1953 c.211 §2; renumbered 305.815]

306.430 [1955 c.772 §2; repealed by 1957 c.528 §8]

306.440 [1959 c.332 §§2,3; renumbered 305.820]

306.510 [1953 c.708 §1; 1961 c.533 §41; renumbered 306.547]

306.515 [1953 c.708 §2; 1959 c.666 §3; 1961 c.533 §42; 1971 c.351 §3; repealed by 1977 c.870 §59]

306.520 [1953 c.708 §3; 1965 c.6 §9; repealed by 1977 c.870 §59]

306.525 [1953 c.708 §4; repealed by 1977 c.870 §59]

306.530 [1953 c.708 §5; 1961 c.533 §43; repealed by 1977 c.870 §59]

306.535 [1953 c.708 §6; repealed by 1961 c.533 §57]

306.537 [Formerly part of 306.545; repealed by 1977 c.870 §59]

306.540 [1953 c.708 §7; repealed by 1961 c.533 §57]

306.545 [1953 c.708 §9; 1955 c.264 §1; 1961 c.533 §44; part renumbered 306.537; 1963 c.423 §4; 1967 c.78 §1; 1973 c.305 §10; 1975 c.381 §3; repealed by 1977 c.870 §59]

306.547 [Formerly 306.510; 1967 c.78 §8; 1973 c.305 §11; 1975 c.705 §15; repealed by 1977 c.870 §59]

306.550 [1953 c.708 §10; repealed by 1961 c.533 §57]

306.555 [1953 c.708 §11; repealed by 1961 c.533 §57]

306.560 [1953 c.708 §12; 1961 c.533 §45; 1963 c.542 §1; 1973 c.305 §12; repealed by 1977 c.870 §59]

306.565 [1953 c.708 §13; repealed by 1961 c.533 §57]

306.570 [1953 c.708 §15; 1957 c.325 §1; repealed by 1961 c.533 §57]

306.575 [1953 c.708 §14; repealed by 1961 c.533 §57]

306.580 [1953 c.708 §17; 1961 c.533 §46; repealed by 1977 c.870 §59]

306.710 [1953 c.708 §16; 1961 c.533 §47; renumbered 305.105]

306.720 [1957 c.337 §§2,3; renumbered 305.150]

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

306.805 Service of orders of department. (1) Orders of the Department of Revenue in property tax cases shall be served by mailing a copy by certified mail to each taxpayer directly affected, or to the attorney or authorized representative of the taxpayer, except that whenever the number of taxpayers whose property is affected by such order exceeds three, the department may, in its discretion, give notice of the order in either of the following ways:

(a) Mail to each taxpayer a notice of the order, which notice shall contain a general statement as to the effect of the order, the classes or types of property affected and a description of the general area affected, as provided by ORS 308.240; or

(b) Cause a notice of the order as described in paragraph (a) of this subsection to be published in some newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the property is located, in two consecutive weekly publications, the first publication to be made within 10 days of the date of the order. Publication shall be deemed complete five days after the last publication and shall be sufficient service of the order on each and every person whose property is affected. Any period of time within which such person may appeal from the order shall commence running on the day following the completion of publication.

(2) All other orders of the department shall be served by mailing a certified copy to the taxpayer, executor or other person or persons directly affected by the order, or to the attorney or authorized representative of the taxpayer, executor or other affected person. [Formerly 306.235; 1977 c.870 §34; 1995 c.293 §2]

306.810 [Formerly 306.330; repealed by 1985 c.604 §8]

306.815 Tax on transfer of real property prohibited; exceptions. (1) A city, county, district or other political subdivision or municipal corporation of this state shall not impose, by ordinance or other law, a tax or fee upon the transfer of a fee estate in real property, or measured by the consideration paid or received upon transfer of a fee estate in real property.

(2) A tax or fee upon the transfer of a fee estate in real property does not include any fee or charge that becomes due or payable at the time of transfer of a fee estate in real property, unless that fee or charge is imposed upon the right, privilege or act of transferring title to real property.

(3) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to any fee established under ORS 203.148.

(4) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to any tax if the ordinance or other law imposing the tax is in effect and operative on March 31, 1997.

(5) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to any tax or fee that is imposed upon the transfer of a fee estate in real property if the fee that is imposed under ORS 205.323, for the recording or filing of the instrument conveying the real property being transferred, is less than $107. [1989 c.796 §29; 1997 c.782 §12; 1999 c.701 §6; 2009 c.18 §5; 2013 c.646 §6; 2018 c.109 §11]

306.990 [Subsection (5) of 1959 Replacement Part enacted as 1953 c.211 §3; 1955 c.610 §4; renumbered 305.990]

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