Key Appointment to Assessment and Taxation

Media release

Posted June 26, 2020

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 26, 2020

Sponsored by: County Administrative Office

Garza named director of Assessment and Taxation Department

Margaret Garza

Interim County Administrator Stephen Rhodes appointed Margaret Garza this week to serve as the permanent director of the Assessment and Taxation Department beginning June 27. Garza had served as the department’s interim director since January 2020 and as business manager there since 2001.

“We are delighted that Margaret has agreed to take this permanent assignment as the top manager with our Assessment and Taxation Department,” said Rhodes. “Margaret has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience with the county organization. She is also highly appreciated throughout the Washington County community.”

Prior to her work with the Assessment and Taxation Department, Garza worked for five years at the Washington County Fair Complex (now Westside Commons), three of those years as chief executive officer. Early in her career, Garza worked as a business consultant, a revenue officer with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and as a police dispatcher and administrative assistant with the City of Hillsboro.

Garza earned two undergraduate degrees from Lewis and Clark College, one in Spanish literature and another in business administration.

Washington County’s Department of Assessment and Taxation is responsible for property tax appraisals and collection on behalf of 57 taxing districts within the county. The department is also charged with conducting elections and issuing and recording official documents. The department has an annual budget of $16 million and is staffed with 117 full-time equivalent positions.

Media Contact:

Philip Bransford, Communications Officer
503-846-8685
[email protected]