County Commissioner Loretta Smith Owes Tens of Thousands in Back Taxes Says State

Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith owes tens of thousands in back taxes and penalties. The state is garnishing her paycheck to get it back.

According to notice of garnishment obtained by Patch through a freedom of information request, the state can take $37,047.99 from her paychecks.

Smith made $99,946 last year as a county commissioner. Documents provided by the county show that $805.39 is deducted from each of her paychecks.

Documents indicate that she owes $26,695.92 in state taxes along with $6,706.80 in penalties and fees and $3,370.27 in interest.

The county also received claim against Smith for $460.40 in money that she owes the River View Village Homeowners Association in Tigard.

Smith told The Portland Mercury - which first reported about the lien - that it was all a misunderstanding, that the state had misclassified her former home as a rental property when she filed her 2012 tax return.

Smith was elected to the commission in 2010 after working for Senator Ron Wyden as his Multnomah County representative.