Yesterday, three appointments were confirmed by City Council to the Revenue Division Appeals Board. The Appeals Board consists of five members. Appointments to the Appeals Board must provide for an appropriate level of expertise in accounting methods and tax regulation. The Mayor and City Auditor previously appointed two other Appeals Board members.
The Auditor’s appointee is Karin Bryant. Karin brings 10 years of financial, IT and performance auditing experience from the Oregon Secretary of State Audits Division to the Appeals Board. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from UC San Diego and a postbaccalaureate certificate in accounting from Portland State University. Karin is a Certified Public Accountant. She has also provided tax preparation assistance to individuals and families as a volunteer with CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) Oregon.
The Revenue Division administers Metro’s Supportive Housing Services and Multnomah County’s Preschool for All taxes, in addition to the City’s tax programs. Taxpayers may protest determinations by the Division and appeal final determinations to the Appeals Board.
The Appeals Board hears appeals and issues final decisions. Its activities were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that appointments have been made, the Board can resume scheduling their hearings.
Auditor Simone Rede extends her congratulations to all the appointees. “I’m grateful to fellow elected leaders for getting the Board up and running again so that community members can be heard. This function is essential to ensuring fair use of our local governments’ tax authority,” Auditor Rede said.
For questions about appointments to the Appeals Board, please email Audit Manager Matthew Thorup at matthew.thorup@portlandoregon.gov.