On October 18th, the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners directed its staff not to accept any more Measure 37 claims or process any current claims unless the recent decision by Marion County Circuit Court Judge Mary James finding the measure unconstitutional is stayed and/or reversed by the Oregon Supreme Court.
  County Counsel Steve Lounsbury advised the Board that since Clackamas County is a defendant in the lawsuit, it is bound by the decision. He noted that claims that have been approved are now null and void unless the decision is stayed and/or reversed on appeal.
  In response to the direction, all further action related to Measure 37 claims - including the October 19 hearing before the Board and future scheduled hearings, processing claims and accepting claims - is being immediately suspended. People who have already filed a claim with the County will be contacted by mail. People whose claims have been approved will be informed that the decision regarding their land is now null and void unless the ruling is stayed and/or reversed on appeal.
  The Board, at its October 20th business meeting, voted to formally approve the action described above.
  For more information, contact Doug McClain at 503-353-4502 or dougm@co.clackamas.or.us, or Jennifer Hughes at 503-353-4518 or jenniferh@co.clackamas.or.us

  Property tax statements will be mailed to 164,638 real and personal property owners on October 20th and 21st. This is the ninth statement issued under Measure 50; the constitutional property tax limitation passed by voters in May 1997.
  Total 2005-2006 property taxes to be collected for all districts in the County is $452,553,654, an increase of 6.1% over last year's total of $426,603,301.
  Taxes from new construction, new money measures approved by the voters, and the required increase of 3% in taxable assessed value on most existing property