Witness urges wider use of property tax deferral for seniors at House Bill 3163 hearing

Jody Weiser, speaking for Tax Fairness Oregon, told a House committee during a public hearing on House Bill 3163 that Oregon's property tax deferral program can offer immediate financial relief to seniors in distress.

"It can mean between $100 a month of extra spending money and $1,000 a month of extra spending money, depending upon what one's property taxes are," Weiser said, urging the committee and legislators to publicize the deferral option to seniors who bring tax-related bills to lawmakers.

Weiser said the deferral program provides relief "without affecting counties' budgets, city's budgets, and all the jurisdictions' budgets." She also warned that giving counties a choice about whether to impose a local property tax effectively shifts budget decisions: "When you give any bill or you give the counties the choice of whether they will impose a property tax or not, you are actually giving them the choice about taking about 33% of their money out of the general fund," Weiser said, noting the role of state school funding formulas in local revenue distribution.

Weiser said she attached a flyer describing the deferral program to her testimony and asked that committee members share the information with seniors who are struggling to pay property taxes. She said the program can substitute for changes that would otherwise draw down local general funds.

Committee staff noted that several people had signed up to testify but some, including Eva Linville, were not present. The committee chair closed the public hearing on House Bill 3163 and said the panel had completed its business for the day.

No vote on House Bill 3163 was recorded in the hearing transcript.