Bend homeowners may be in for a shock when their property tax bill arrives soon. Several measures passed by voters will cause it to rise even more than some people expected.
Property tax is calculated based on the assessed value of the property. According to Oregon law, that value cannot increase by more than 3% per year unless there are changes, such as adding new structure.
Deschutes County Assessor Scott Langton said Bend’s typical property tax bill will increase about 8 percent this year following several voter-approved levies and bond issues.
“They updated the local option tax on fire, which was about a 56-cent increase in the tax rate. So they’re going to experience that. And with last year’s bond payment, they They wanted a bond of about $4 million.”This year it’s about $9 million, so that’s more than double the bond payment and the interest rate will go up that much,” Langton said.
Langton said it’s a common misconception that tax increases are capped at 3%.
“No, the maximum assessed value is capped at 3 percent unless something changes to the property. The tax is what the voters want,” Langton said.
You should start receiving invoices in the mail within the next week. It also includes a breakdown of items that increase property taxes.
Look up your bill online
Homeowners can also view their bill now by visiting this link from the appraiser’s website. Enter your address to view your property, then look to the left and click “Tax Information.” On the next screen, look near the top to see your tax amount for the past five years. The 2024 tax year will be displayed on the right side of the screen. Click to download the tax return PDF.
The first payment is due November 15th. Homeowners who pay their property tax bill in full by that date will receive a 3% discount.
Those who pay two-thirds by November 15th will receive a 2% discount. Final payment deadline is May 15th.
The discount will not apply to those who have paid one-third by November 15th. The next payment is due by February 18th and, if necessary, by May 15th.
If you have any tax questions, please call us at 541-388-6540. For questions regarding evaluations, please call 541-388-6508. Langton encourages people to call or come into the assessor’s office if they think something is wrong or don’t understand the system.
“We are here to answer these questions, including whether they are specific to your property, how the property tax system works, and how it applies to your property. , and we would be happy to review your property with you,” Langton said.
