Office of Commissioner Loretta Smith

501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 600

Portland, OR 97214
https://multco.us/loretta-smith

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 16, 2015

David Blair 541.410.6121
David.Blair@multco.us

Commissioner Loretta Smith requests review of Accessory

Dwelling Unit assessment policy
Portland, OR Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith today asked County
Chair Deborah Kafoury for a review of Multnomah County tax assessment procedures
concerning properties where a detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) has been built.
Over the past few years, the City and County have looked high and low for ways to
increase the availability of housing in Multnomah County, the Commissioner said.
Now we find out that that while the City has done its part to enable homeowners to put
in ADUs, the County Assessors office has made an interpretation of the tax rules that
is sending tax bills skyrocketing, she continued.
It is very troubling to me that this methodology was selected with virtually no
communication to the public. We should all be on the same page regarding the
importance of increasing the availability of accessible and affordable housing within our
neighborhoods.
Commissioner Smith is asking Chair Deborah Kafoury to review the current policy
approach being taken by the Multnomah County Assessors Office, applicable to
homeowners who build detached ADUs on their property.
For further information, media is welcome to contact the following experts and affected
residents:

Kol Peterson, editor of AccessoryDwellings.org, 503-395-4248

Ross Kevlin, homeowner currently building an ADU, (503) 249-6990 (D2)
Craig Switalla, homeowner who built ADU for mom, adversely impact by the reMAV, 503-505-2927 (D2)
Rob Bart, Owner of Forge Portland, ADU Builder, 541-399-2599
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