2011 Oregon Revised Statutes
ORS Volume 8, Chapters 305 - 325
ORS Chapter 308a
308A.119 Abatement; termination of abatement.

(1) If on January 1 of any year any farmland assessed under ORS 308A.068 has become disqualified for farm use special assessment because of any gross income or other requirement of ORS 308A.071, the collection of the additional taxes under ORS 308A.700 to 308A.733 shall be deferred, but only if each year for a period of five consecutive years (or such lesser number of years in which farm use assessment was in effect prior to disqualification) beginning on January 1 of the first year the land became so disqualified, the land is used as farmland (including, for the purposes of this section, the growing of forest products). As the limited use is continued and completed each year, additional taxes are abated on the basis of an abatement of one year s additional tax for each year of limited use beginning with the oldest year for which additional taxes are due for up to five years (or the number of years for which farm use assessment was in effect, whichever is less). Beginning on the January 1 the land became so disqualified the land shall be assessed at its assessed value under ORS 308.146 or as otherwise provided by law without regard to any special assessment laws.

(2) If at any time prior to the expiration of the five-year (or lesser) period specified in subsection (1) of this section the land is used for a higher and better use than farmland, the abatement process shall terminate, and there shall be added to the tax extended against the land on the next general property tax roll, (to be collected and distributed in the same manner as the remainder of the real property tax) the additional taxes that still remain deferred and unabated under subsection (1) of this section.

(3) When land described in this section is used for a higher and better use than farmland during the five-year (or lesser) period described in subsection (1) of this section, the owner shall notify the county assessor before the following January 1 of the change in use.

(4) The amount determined to be due under this section may be paid to the tax collector prior to the completion of the next general property tax roll, pursuant to ORS 311.370. [Formerly 308.404]