Politics
West Property Tax Assessment Reform Act Recalculates Bills for Capital Region Homeowners
Homeowners across West will receive updated property tax notices by December under the legislation passed in June.
How we reported this
The West legislature approved the Property Tax Assessment Reform Act in late June. The measure requires county assessors to use updated market data when setting values for residential properties starting in the 2026 tax year. It directly changes bills mailed to owners in the capital region and surrounding counties.
Property values recorded by the state revenue office rose 12 percent between 2024 and 2025. Lawmakers cited those figures when drafting the bill. The reform adjusts the frequency of reassessments from every three years to every two years to match current sales records more closely.
Changes for Residents in Specific Areas
Owners of single-family homes in the capital region will see the first recalculated statements arrive with their fourth-quarter payments. Renters in multi-unit buildings may face pass-through adjustments if landlords request higher lease amounts after their own tax notices arrive. The state budget office has set aside $2.5 million to cover new software and staff training at county offices.
Local advocates note that properties purchased after 2023 will face the largest shifts because recent sale prices form the new baseline. A typical three-bedroom house assessed at $285,000 last year could move to $310,000 under the revised formula, though exact amounts depend on location and improvements recorded by assessors.
Next Steps for Implementation
County offices must finish initial reviews by 15 November. The revenue office will publish a public dashboard listing sample calculations for each zip code by early October. Residents can request an informal review of their new assessment through an online portal that opens on 1 September.
Further adjustments could occur if appeals reach the state board before the final bills are printed in December. The legislation requires the revenue office to issue an annual report on revenue collected under the new system by March 2027.