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2023/2024 Property Tax Statements Mailed This Week

This year’s property tax statements account for a total of $110.9 million which will pay for County Government Services (public safety, road improvements, elections, public health), City Services (police, fire protection, urban renewal projects), Education (K-12, Clatsop Community College, NW ESD), Port of Astoria and Rural Fire and other Special Districts. 

This is an increase of $7.6 million (7%) compared to last year. The increase in taxes is due to several factors including the 3% increase in assessed value on most properties, value due to new construction activity and new or increased taxing district levies and bonds. 

If you live in a taxing district that has new voter-approved bonds or local option levies, your property taxes may increase more than the anticipated 3%. New levies and bonds approved by the voters will be reflected in this year’s tax bills.

2023/24 Significant Tax Roll Increases

• City of Astoria – Library Bond | 2023/24 Bond Rate is .5545 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation | Questions? Contact the City of Astoria
• Lewis & Clark RFPD – Local Option Levy | 2023/24 LO Rate is $1.15 per $1,000 assessed valuation- (Voters renewed the levy with .25 cent increase)

Discount

Property tax payments must be paid in full and received or postmarked by November 15, 2023 to be eligible for the 3% discount on property taxes due. Make Checks Payable to: Clatsop County Tax Collector.

Online Payment Options

Credit and debit card payments can be made online by going to the Clatsop County Website’s Pay Tax Online link. Processing fees will apply. See webpage for details.

Read more.

County Budget Committee Has Vacancy



Clatsop County is accepting applications for a vacancy on the countywide Budget Committee. The application deadline is Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

Budget committee members review the proposed overall county budget, make recommendations and approve the proposed budget for adoption by the county commissioners.

The committee is made up of five county commissioners and five local residents appointed by commissioners. The committee generally meets in May to review the proposed budget. The vacancy is for a term ending June 30, 2026.

Read more.

Candidates Sought for Fair and Expo Board

The Clatsop County Board of Commissions is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving on the Clatsop County Fair Board. 

The Clatsop County Fair Board operates and otherwise manages the Fairgrounds with the assistance of staff. This includes recruiting for bookings, scheduling, establishing rental fees, general promotion, food service, concessions, maintenance and all other related operational activities.

The deadline to submit completed applications is 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 31.

Read more.

Sunset Empire Transportation Bus Routes Update

Sunset Empire Transit District is reinstating routes and changing current routes to allow for more frequent and additional service. 

Although the SETD website is still not functioning, updates and schedules are posted to their Facebook page, in shelters and available from drivers on the buses.

October 9

• Reinstated Route 20 is making 6 weekday trips between Seaside-Cannon Beach
• Reinstated Route 10 is making 6 weekday trips through and around Astoria

November 1

• Route 101 has added stops at Warrenton Mini Mart and goes between Astoria and Seaside, increasing frequency to 8 weekday trips per day. This updated 101 route eliminates Cannon Beach due to Route 20 going from Seaside to Cannon Beach
• Pacific Connector has added stops at Warrenton Mini Mart and will make five trips from Astoria to Cannon Beach on Saturday and Sunday

Week 6 of Clatsop County’s 6-Weeks Ready Emergency Preparedness campaign focuses on earthquake safety.

The Great Shakeout is only days away, so this week, we are focusing on ways to protect yourself before and during an earthquake.

Secure Your Home or Office

• Secure heavy items in your home like bookcases, refrigerators, water heaters, televisions and objects that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves
• Consider making improvements to your home to fix structural issues that could cause your home to collapse during an earthquake
• Consider getting an earthquake insurance policy. A standard homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage. 

Drop, Cover and Hold On

1. DROP

As soon as you notice the first signs of an earthquake, drop onto your hands and knees. Earthquakes are very powerful and might knock you down if you remain standing, which could cause injury.

When you drop to the floor and stay low, you will be in a more stable, safe position. From a dropped position on your knees, you can also crawl to cover more easily. If you are seated and cannot drop to the floor, follow steps 2 and 3: Cover and Hold On.

2. COVER

Even small items in your home, such as a vase on a bookshelf or a framed photo on the wall, could cause severe injury if they fall onto you during an earthquake.

During an earthquake, remain dropped on your knees and bend over to protect your head and vital organs. If there is a sturdy desk or table nearby, crawl underneath it for cover. Otherwise, crawl next to an inside wall and get as far away from windows as possible.

3. HOLD ON

Furniture might shift around during the earthquake, so if the table or desk you are under moves, you need to move with it to avoid being injured by it. That means holding on with one or both hands during the shaking. If you are not sheltered under furniture, use both arms and hands to hold on to your head and neck.

Stay in your covered, dropped position until shaking stops.

After the initial jolt, there is still a chance of aftershocks, building damage, and other dangers, so it is important to remain aware of additional dangers after the initial earthquake.

After the Earthquake

As soon as the ground stops shaking, assess your location, especially whether you are in a landslide or tsunami inundation zone. If needed, move to higher ground or a safer location.

Check your immediate area for injured people and for any new hazards that may have formed, such as leaking gas lines, building damage or collapse, or broken water or electric lines.

The Clatsop County 6-Weeks Ready campaign ends with the Great Shakeout.

We encourage anyone who has not yet joined us in the campaign to start now. Our website has information that can help individuals and families get prepared.

We also encourage everyone to register online to participate in the Great Shakeout.

Local Beat the Wave tsunami maps are available at the Oregon Tsunami Clearing House resource library.

Personal preparedness and other emergency preparedness information can be found at Get 6 WEEKS READY Clatsop County | Clatsop County Oregon.

Tuesday, October 17, is the last day to register to vote for the Tuesday, November 7 election. 

This election affects those registered within the city limits of the City of Warrenton, Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District and Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District.

Official ballots will be mailed Wednesday, October 18. 



Read more.

With the return of colder temperatures, people spending more time indoors, and children and youth back at school, Respiratory Virus Season has returned.

Clatsop County Department of Public Health has suggestions on how you and loved ones can stay healthy:



• Stay home if you feel sick or have any symptoms, such as congestion, cough, fever that is greater than 100.5 degrees, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue
• Wash your hands frequently and before eating
• Get vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu for those six months and older
• Get vaccinated for those who are RSV eligible
• Cover your cough
• Wear a mask if you are around high-risk individuals, in congregate care facilities or with persons with immunocompromising conditions

Septic Issues? A New Program May Help

A new program is available to help Clatsop County homeowners repair or replace septic systems that are damaged, non-working or have failed.

“It can be expensive to fix septic issues but this program can provide relief to individuals and small businesses. 

Eligible individuals may receive a no-interest, no payment loan, with a 30-year term or due when the title changes. In other situations, they could receive a grant which does not have to be paid back,” said Casey Mitchell, weatherization & housing rehab program manager for Community Action Team Inc.

This program is open to up to 105 participants. To be eligible, household income must be at 120% of area median income or less, and the septic system must be on private property in Columbia, Clatsop or Tillamook counties.

Application Form

$30,000 in Grants Now Available to Local Service Providers

On behalf of the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners, a total of $30,000 is being made available to be distributed to local not-for-profit social human services organizations that address Clatsop County community needs.

The Clatsop County Human Services Advisory Council will review grant applications and make recommendations to the Board based on the Board’s annual strategic planning goals.

Online applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. To be eligible for consideration, the county online application must be completed. Grants will be awarded in Spring 2024.

Read more.

Crews will be crack sealing at the Klaskanine River Bridge (Youngs River Road milepost 10.55). There will be one lane closure with minimal delays. Flaggers will be present.

Crews will:

• Brush chop countywide
• Grade gravel roads in the Knappa area
• Perform culvert and ditch maintenance county wide
• Monitor for inclement weather affecting roads

Elections

Candidate filing window has opened for the May 21, 2024 Primary Election. Positions include Precinct Committee Persons, Commissioner District 2, Commissioner District 4 and Sheriff.

Recording Information

You can now search for a document that has been recorded in Clatsop County. In coordination with Information Systems we have developed a way to search for a document before coming in or calling our office.

Once you find the document you are looking for you can request a copy without paying a research fee. 

Just go to our website under Recording Information – Records Research, click on Locate a Document.

Passports

• An appointment is RECOMMENDED prior to coming in for new passport processing. Routine service can take 10-13 weeks or longer. Expedite service can take 7-9 weeks. 

• Please go to our webpage and schedule an appointment for passports, park passes, marriage licenses, dog licenses, and recordings with us. If you do not have an appointment, you may be asked to wait if we are with someone that has scheduled an appointment. 

Clatsop County is a great place to work. Find out about current Clatsop County career opportunities where you can make a difference every day.

• Clinical Manager/Nursing Supervisor - Jail. Open until filled. First review of applicants on 10/23/23
• Deputy District Attorney I, II or III. Open until filled. Reposted 10/5/23
• Electrical Inspector. Open until filled. Reposted 9/20/23
• Public Works Director. Closes 10/25/23

Clatsop County is committed to being transparent and providing the information you need, when you need it.

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