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Commissioners press for senior property tax options, stronger SHS oversight and public conversations on data centers
Summary
During commissioner communications, members discussed scheduling an assessor briefing on Oregon’s property tax deferral for seniors, the need for clearer KPIs and oversight for Supportive Housing Services (SHS) dollars, and opening public conversations on data center policy as an emerging regional issue.
Clackamas County commissioners used their communications period on July 9 to outline several policy priorities and next steps.
Commissioner Savas said he will bring an update on the Oregon property tax deferral program for qualifying seniors to a future meeting and asked staff and the assessor to present details so the board can weigh deferral, freezes or other options. "I wanna learn and educate and so our public knows that it's out there," Savas said, urging a comparison of options before advocating policy.
Commissioner West publicly recognized county staff who helped secure a last‑minute approval to allow a July 4 pool event to proceed, singling out Abby Powell and Dan Johnson for staff support. West then discussed the Supportive Housing Services (SHS) RPOC oversight work, saying progress on key performance indicators (KPIs) has been slow and expressing concern about financial controls. "We shouldn't have a whistleblower be the reason why we learn about something," West said, urging continuous internal controls and stronger accountability for nonprofit recipients of SHS dollars.
Commissioner Helm raised data centers as an issue the county needs to prepare for, noting the county currently has no ordinances and supporting public, deliberative conversations before the county considers regulatory steps. Commissioners agreed to engage the public and review regional developments and potential policy models.
County staff told commissioners the assessor will present material on the state program at the next Tuesday meeting and that the board can request additional data or impact projections to inform policy decisions. Commissioners also noted the filing deadline for measures is approaching if the county considers a public safety levy.
The meeting adjourned after these updates; commissioners identified specific follow‑up items including an assessor briefing and further public engagement on data centers and SHS oversight.
