Multnomah vs Clackamas County? (Portland, Sandy: sales, to rent, assessors) - Oregon (OR) - City-Data Forum

bluebird39 · 03-05-2009, 03:57 PM

What, if any, are the differences between living in either of these 2 counties? Are property taxes different? Sales taxes, governments, schools? Thanks.

Nell Plotts · 03-05-2009, 04:15 PM

There are NO SALES TAXES in Oregon.

Multnomah County today is almost concurrent with the City of Portland. What is left out is tough for them to serve. For example, they don't have any building department so construction permits and inspection for unincorporated areas is done by the City of Portland. However, they control land use planning for unincorporated areas which results in conflict with the owner caught in the middle. Also, my impression is that Multnomah County is often more of a PITA when compared to Clackamas County (impression, not based on any analytics).

BLAZER PROPHET · 03-05-2009, 04:48 PM

The People's Republic of Multnomah County has higher property taxes (in general) and recently the residents passed a new county income tax. They also tax business higher.

If you don't want to be forced to wear a little red hat with a star on it and call each other 'commrade', then I might suggest Clackamas County.

davefr · 03-05-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLAZER PROPHET

The People's Republic of Multnomah County has higher property taxes (in general) and recently the residents passed a new county income tax. They also tax business higher.

If you don't want to be forced to wear a little red hat with a star on it and call each other 'commrade', then I might suggest Clackamas County.

^^^ He's right. Multnomah has an anti business climate, an "in your face" nanny style of government and some a pretty corrupt politicians. Things get a little more sane in either Clackamas or Washington County.

StealthRabbit · 03-06-2009, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davefr

^^^ He's right. Multnomah has an anti business climate, an "in your face" nanny style of government and some a pretty corrupt politicians. Things get a little more sane in either Clackamas or Washington County.

and even better outside the metro counties (especially for businesses). So consider this if you plan any 'self-employment' or business activities, or have to rent a car... or any other petty tax snags.

bluebird39 · 03-06-2009, 09:49 AM

Thanks. What about across the river in Vancouver or Camas (there may also be a job opening there for us too that we just found out about, also maybe one in Sandy)?

I lived in S Oregon for many years, and have relatives in Portland, so I know a bit about the area, but also know that many cities are now taxing things like restaurants, and starting to have their own sales taxes to pay for schools etc... I should have clarified myself.

I wish we could come check these places out ourselves, but we're across the country right now.

Thanks again.

StealthRabbit · 03-06-2009, 10:08 AM

WA doesn't have income tax, so that is a 9% raise, but they have an 8% sales tax.

So if you spend more than you earn OR would be better. If you need schools then WA usually wins.

Both places are very tight on jobs. For schools look to Camas, WA or Sandy, / Boring, OR

WA is tough on business taxes (If you operate one), Property taxes are high in each state, but vary a lot within each area, so choose home carefully - or rent for awhile. (An example of property tax disparity... If my house was 1/4 mile further east, I would pay $6,000 less / yr). Be sure to visit the assessors office BEFORE the realtor.

bluebird39 · 03-06-2009, 11:53 AM

Thanks. Good advice. We don't have a business and are rather frugal, since we left OR so I could afford to stay at home with kids. I guess it ultimately depends on what job, if any he gets. We should know more in a month or 2, but I'm glad to hear WA has some positive. If DH gets the OR job, we'd almost have to live in OR, since the commute would be way too long, but if he got the WA job, we may have a choice of where to live.

I do have school age kids, so that's important, as is an affordable house.

Do you know if WA taxes food? MI doesn't, which makes it really nice.

John Shaft · 03-06-2009, 12:27 PM

What is this about a county income tax in Mult. County? I remember there was one and it ended about 2 years ago...are you talking about that one, or a new one?

Nell Plotts · 03-06-2009, 03:04 PM

WA will probably tax food soon. The current sales tax isn't generating enough revenue.

Frankly I don't think you can generalize about WA vs OR schools. I have a friend who moved within the state of WA. Her kids were in public schools until they moved to Vancouver. She said they were so bad she sent her kids to private schools. Most school's test scores are on line, do the research and form your own opinion.