Locals who’ve recently suffered storm damage to their home or business could get some tax relief. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.
Ice storms, flooding, power outages, falling trees…it’s been quite the week. But Lane County Assessor Mike Cowles says people who’ve seen “Act of God” damage to their house or office can apply for a proration of tax…essentially a tax reduction.
Cowles says it begins with filling out an application either at the Lane County Department of Assessment and Taxation, or online at http://www.lanecounty.org/at.
“An appraiser will go out to the property, assess the damage…then there will be a proration of taxes for a loss of value," explains Cowles.
"There’s a fairly complex calculation, but the process is very simple. Then when the property is restored back to its original state…that time that the loss of use or the loss of value…the property owner receives a proration of the taxes they’ve already paid.”
Property owners should apply as soon as possible, as all proration applications need to be done within 60 days after the damage occurred.
The tax relief doesn’t apply to personal property, like cars, trees, or furniture.
