In most American cities, property taxes are less complicated than particle physics, or string theory. The same is true in Portland, but just barely.

But the current City Council may be the first one ever to ask administrators to come explain it, according to Multnomah County Assessor Mike Vaughn. He and John Botaitis, the county’s head of appraisals, answered an invitation by City Councilor Olivia Clark to do so on Oct. 16.

In an interview, Clark said she arranged the session to bring “greater sensitivity” to downtown businesses. “It’s really important,” she said, “that people understand how local government is funded if we’re going to pay for the programs that people want throughout the city.”

Property generates about half the tax revenue collected by the city every year. Councilors—ma

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