QuickTake:

Kimberly Westwang, a commercial property appraiser for Lane County, reminds businesses about the personal property taxes that are required. The county focuses on outreach and collaboration to encourage compliance.

Editor’s note: People are the heart of Lane County — which is why, each week, Lookout Eugene-Springfield will profile someone who is working behind the scenes to make our community better. If you have suggestions on others we should profile, send us an email.

Name: Kimberly Westwang
Age: 58
Job title: Property appraiser III 
Agency: Lane County Assessment & Taxation
Years in role: 11
Years in agency overall: 17 

This interview was conducted in person and over email and answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Lookout Eugene-Springfield: What do you do for Lane County? 

Westwang: I work as a commercial property appraiser for Lane County, specializing in personal property taxation of business equipment. My main responsibility is reviewing and valuing the equipment that businesses report on their Confidential Personal Property Returns, which are required by the state of Oregon. Every business in the state is required to self-report this information each year by March 15, and we assess taxes based on the real market value of their equipment.

Essentially, I help ensure businesses are reporting accurately and fairly, so that property taxes are applied consistently and equitably across the county. 

When are Lane County residents most likely to meet you when you’re on the job?

Residents might meet me if they own or operate a business in Lane County. Because personal property taxes are based on a self-reporting system, our office conducts audits each year on a selection of new and existing businesses. These audits help ensure accuracy and fairness in reporting, and they give me the opportunity to work directly with business owners to review their reported equipment values.

Do you do a combination of trips to business properties and office work?

The majority of my time is spent in the office, but we do go out and do physical inspections of businesses, because the personal property reporting is a self-reporting system. Sometimes businesses aren’t always honest, and so we randomly choose businesses throughout the year that we go and do physical audits. We notify them ahead of time that that’s going to happen so it’s the best possible time for their schedules.

What’s the most rewarding part of your work?

I enjoy helping business owners understand and comply with state statutes and reporting requirements for business equipment, and being able to share information, answer questions and ensure businesses are being taxed correctly. It’s satisfying to know that my role helps create fairness and consistency across the county while also supporting business owners in meeting their obligations. 

What’s the most challenging part about your job? 

Making sure business owners are aware of the personal property tax reporting requirements. Because many cities in Lane County don’t require business licenses, we don’t always know when a new business opens. That makes outreach especially important.

We work hard to spread the word through press releases, informational classes, and even inserts in residential property tax statements, so business owners know their filing responsibilities and can stay in compliance.

What’s the most surprising or unexpected thing that people don’t know about your job?

Many people don’t realize that Lane County can assess taxes on businesses that have been operating but never filed a return. This is called “omitted property” — property the assessor was not previously aware of. In those cases, the county can collect taxes for the current year plus up to five prior years, and businesses may also face a 50% late filing penalty for each year. Many businesses are surprised to learn about these requirements, which is why outreach and education are important parts of what we do.

What’s the one thing you would want people to know about your job?

What I’d want people to know is that when our office reaches out, we’re simply doing our jobs as fellow community members. We understand that no one enjoys paying taxes — ourselves included — but we also recognize the vital role taxes play in supporting the services that make our communities stronger and safer. For every dollar collected in Lane County, about 3.8 cents goes to fire districts, 5.9 cents to libraries, parks and water districts, 12 cents to the county, 31 cents to cities, and the largest share — 47.3 cents — supports our schools.

Depreciation schedule codes are written on a white board in Kimberly Westwang’s office. “I pretty much have that memorized by now,” said Westwang, who has been a personal property appraiser for the Lane County Department of Assessment and Taxation for 11 years. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA

What attracted you to this type of work? 

It combines two things I really enjoy — working with people and working with numbers. I like being able to share my knowledge in a way that helps others while also using my analytical skills. Lane County also provides a great work environment and excellent benefits, which makes it a place I can truly see myself staying long term — ideally until I retire.

In your time in this role, what work experience stands out the most for you so far?

What stands out are the relationships I’ve built along the way — with my co-workers and with local business owners. I really value the opportunities I’ve had to do outreach and help business owners better understand their reporting responsibilities so they can stay in compliance. Another part that stands out is how our work is always evolving — we’re constantly adapting to new statutes and requirements, which keeps the job both interesting and rewarding. 

When you’re not working, what do you do for fun?

I stay busy with family, community activities, and personal hobbies. My husband and I have five adult children and two grandchildren, and we’re currently planning my youngest child’s wedding in June. I’m very involved in my small town of Cottage Grove, including volunteering with the Western Oregon Exposition Heritage Fair as a vendor coordinator and helping plan their upcoming Christmas event. I’ve also participated with the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce and run a small side business called T&K Creations, which specializes in laser engraving.

In addition, I enjoy supporting local events like the Cottage Grove Community Cook-Off, and I’m excited about upcoming celebrations, including the 50th reunion of the filming of “Animal House.” I also love camping, outdoor activities, refinishing furniture, vendor events showcasing our laser-engraved items and spending quality time with my family.

Ben Botkin covers politics and policy in Lane County. He has worked as a journalist since 2003, most recently at the Oregon Capital Chronicle, where he covered justice, health and human services and documented regional efforts to combat fentanyl addiction. Botkin has worked in statehouses in Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma and, of course, Oregon. When he's not working, you'll find him road tripping across the West, hiking or surfing along the Oregon Coast.