Politics
Centrum Property Tax Relief Ordinance Sets October 2026 Notices, Affecting 28,000 Households
Centrum homeowners will receive revised tax statements in the fourth quarter of 2026 that reflect the new assessment rates for properties under 2,000 square feet.
How we reported this
The Centrum City Council passed the Property Tax Relief Ordinance on July 2, which lowers assessment rates for residential properties under 2,000 square feet. The change applies to approximately 28,000 households across the city's five wards, according to the ordinance text filed with the city clerk.
The measure follows the mayor's May 2026 budget proposal that identified a 4.1 million dollar shortfall in the housing department's operating fund. The 2026 fiscal year budget document lists the ordinance as one tool to realign revenue collections with the updated property valuations completed by the assessor's office in December 2025.
Residents will first see the adjustment on tax notices mailed in October 2026 for the period beginning January 2027. A homeowner in the Riverside ward with a 350,000 dollar property, for instance, is projected to pay 180 dollars less per year once the new rate takes effect.
Budget Allocation and Projected Reach
The 2026 budget paper allocates 3.8 million dollars from the general fund to cover the revenue reduction during the first two years. The legislation states that 62 percent of single-family homes in Centrum will qualify for the lower assessment rate, with the remaining properties subject to existing rates.
Renters may encounter secondary effects if property owners adjust lease amounts, although the ordinance contains no provisions that require landlords to reduce rents. City records show the average monthly rent in the downtown wards stood at 1,650 dollars in the most recent quarterly housing report.
Application Process and Full Implementation
Property owners can submit relief applications through the city portal beginning August 15. The government projects that all appeals and adjustments will be processed by mid-2028, at which point the full annual impact will appear on every eligible tax bill. Two community sessions at the Centrum Public Library on July 22 and July 29 will provide instructions on the filing steps.