ORS 308.062: Action by department when appraisals not being conducted as provided by law; reimbursement of department costs.

(1) If the Department of Revenue determines that appraisals in any county are not being made as provided by law, to meet the requirements of real market value and under a program that ensures compliance with ORS 308.234, or if the department determines that the county is not in compliance with a conference agreement or a plan developed at a conference as provided under ORS 294.181, it shall make a written report to the county court or board of county commissioners of the county, describing the provisions of law which are not being followed and recommending specific measures to be taken by the county court or board and the assessor to cure the deficiencies noted. (2) If the department thereafter discovers that any measure or measures are not being taken as recommended under subsection (1) of this section, and that as a result, in the department’s opinion, appraisals in the county are not being made as provided by law, including meeting the requirements of ORS 308.232 or 308.234, the department shall give 30 days’ written notice to the assessor and to the county court or board of county commissioners of its intention to use the most practicable means to cure the deficiencies, including but not limited to the use of its own employees and equipment or the use of fee appraisers. If within the 30-day period the assessor and the county court or board of county commissioners fail to take action to correct the deficiencies through the providing of funds and personnel, or by the submission of a plan acceptable to the department, the department shall proceed to cure the deficiencies. The county court or board of county commissioners shall bear the full expense of the necessary actions taken by the Department of Revenue for the benefit of the county, aided by the provisions of subsection (3) of this section. (3) In the event that the department must perform services within or for a county pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the costs shall be advanced from its Assessment and Taxation County Account, described in ORS 306.125, and, except as otherwise provided by law, that account shall be reimbursed for the sum of such costs from the county’s share of the state shared funds, unless other provision is made by action of the county court or board. Reimbursement of the Assessment and Taxation County Account shall be made from time to time upon the order of the Secretary of State to the State Treasurer, based upon the Department of Revenue’s certified, itemized statement of such costs to the Secretary of State. Reimbursement shall be from an equal proportion of all state share funds required or permitted to be distributed to the county that are not otherwise dedicated as provided by law. If the county is a county for which expenditures for assessment and taxation have been certified under ORS 294.175, the total reimbursement to the department shall not exceed the amount of the expenditures so certified. If the county is a county for which expenditures for assessment and taxation have not been certified under ORS 294.175, the total reimbursement to the department shall not exceed the total amount of expenditures as determined for purposes of issuing the notice required under ORS 294.175 (4). Copies of the department’s certified itemized statement of costs shall be sent to the county court or board and to the county assessor. [1989 c.796 §18; 1991 c.459 §175; 1997 c.782 §8; 2003 c.169 §10]