Oregon Property Taxes - Who pays the most in Corvallis and Benton County?

Top Property Tax Payers in Benton County, Oregon

Oregon is one of five states without a statewide sales tax but has a 9% income tax for most workers and what many consider a high property tax rate. Property taxes are complex as there have been several statewide referendums that have established limits on property taxes and how they are calculated.

In general, property tax rates are set by county assessors at real market value, with additional taxes set by schools, bond measures and other special considerations. In Benton County our taxes are limited to $15 per $1,000 assessed value. Valuations can, and generally do, go up 3% per year. Commercial properties can be assessed by a different method from residential properties.

The top property tax payers in Benton County are, not surprising, commercial properties. Here are the top ten and the taxes they paid last year, according to the Benton County Assessor's Office:

1. Hewlett-Packard Company $6,321,581
2. NW Natural Gas 427,229
3. Evanite Fiber Inc. 400,214
4. Qwest Corporation 374,269
5. PacifiCorp 330,968
6. Starker Forests Inc. 269,976
7. Accu-Fab Systems Inc. 256,827
8. Pioneer Telephone Co-op 240,920
9. Avery Investments LLC 232,402
10. Witham Hill Oaks Apts. 230,509