(The Center Square) – While those supporting sales tax breaks for data center projects say they believe the breaks are necessary to compete for projects amongst the 38 states that currently offer the incentives, a growing number of state Legislatures are considering whether the tax breaks are worth the benefits.
Several large corporate property tax appeals in Wasco County are forcing officials to set aside millions that might otherwise flow to schools, fire districts and other local services as yet another wave of valuation disputes wind through state and court review.
SALEM — On May 21, Gov. Kate Brown got her wish to expand an existing business tax break that will cost the state $11.3 million in 2018. During the eight-hour special session, the House of Representatives voted 51-to-8 and the Senate voted 18-to-12 to pass the tax break for certain sole proprietorships via House Bill 4301.
SALEM — Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday issued a proclamation calling for a special legislative session May 21 and released a draft of the bill she wants lawmakers to consider. The proposed law would expand to sole proprietors state tax breaks available to owners of certain businesses whose business income "passes through" to their personal income tax returns instead of paying corporate rates.
Republicans have rewritten tax law for the first time in three decades and U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., expects the $1.5 trillion in cuts to create jobs and make the U.S. more competitive world wide.
To the editor: Yes, I am a progressive liberal. I can’t recall a policy I’ve agreed with Senator Ferrioli on…until now. Senator Ferrioli just voted to extend health care to all children in Oregon, including those without documentation, because it made economic sense but also because it was the right thing to do from a societal aspect. Mr. Walden would do well to pay attention to the actions just demonstrated by Senator Ferrioli and try, just once, to stand up and do the right thing whether or not it’s popular with his party and his donors.
There is life the way you want it to be and then there is reality. A good example of that difference in outlook was on display this week at three public meetings. Citizens and government leaders weighed in on Google’s proposal for a third expansion of its holdings tied to another 15-year property tax break.
To the editor: The day is coming in November when you can reject the current administration’s plan for the City of The Dalles. I feel rejection to the point of having a new group of leaders look at current plans and give a new take on whether this is a direction we should be going.
