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Hamilton County auditor urges fixes to homestead exemption, highlights new website tools
Summary
Hamilton County Auditor Jessica Miranda told North Bend council the auditor's office administers property valuations, two statutory tax‑relief programs (homestead and owner‑occupancy credits), and a countywide rental‑registration program; she also highlighted new website accessibility, translation and search tools and urged local advocacy to update the homestead exemption law.
Hamilton County Auditor Jessica Miranda laid out how the auditor's office manages property valuation and two state‑authorized property‑tax relief programs while visiting the North Bend village council on April 27.
"We are paying all of the county's bills. That's every department that is underneath the board of county commissioners," Miranda said, describing the auditor's role as the county's chief financial officer and noting the office assesses roughly 350,000 parcels across Hamilton County.
Miranda outlined two statutory relief programs the auditor administers: the homestead exemption for residents 65 and older who meet income guidelines, and the owner‑occupancy credit for people who live in and own their primary residence. She said the homestead exemption has not kept pace with rising home values and encouraged council members to press state lawmakers to move bills that would adjust the benefit.
The auditor clarified eligibility and process details during council questions: social‑security income is excluded from the homestead income calculation, she said, and the owner‑occupancy credit applies to owners who live in the property even if a mortgage remains outstanding.
Miranda also described the county's rental‑registration requirement (a one‑page statutory filing) intended to help law enforcement and protect tenants; the office may assess a $150 penalty against landlords who fail to file the form. She emphasized the registration is informational and does not change property tax liability.
On technology and public access, Miranda demonstrated recent upgrades to the auditor's website: an accessibility plugin, automatic translation into more than 100 languages, a new site search bar, and a three‑part video series explaining the board of revision. She said the office prepared the county's first annual report under current leadership and has launched social accounts and YouTube videos to reach residents.
Miranda also reviewed appraisal schedules: Hamilton County is conducting a 2026 triennial review, and the next mass appraisal — previously planned for 2029 — was rescheduled to 2030 by the state. She described the difference between annual valuation updates, triennial desktop reviews and mass reappraisals that involve field work by county appraisers.
Why it matters: Miranda framed the discussion around how local tax bills are the product of many levies and state funding decisions as well as assessed values. She warned that broad changes at the state level — including citizen initiatives to eliminate property taxes that some petitioners are circulating — would shift funding responsibilities for schools and local services to the state and could have major budgetary consequences.
Looking ahead: Miranda encouraged residents and local officials to check the auditor's property search tool for tax‑distribution details and to contact the auditor's office if they believe they qualify for homestead or owner‑occupancy relief. She said board of revision filing season has closed and scheduling of cases is underway.
The auditor's presentation ran during the council's regular meeting; council members followed with technical questions about registration enforcement, website platform and the potential fiscal impacts of state ballot initiatives.
