ORS 285C.606 Eligibility of projects for tax exemption; exclusions; revenue bond financing; first-source hiring agreements and job fairs

The State of Oregon, acting through the Oregon Business Development Commission, may determine that real and personal property constituting a project shall receive the tax exemption provided in ORS 307.123 if:

The project is an eligible project;

The project directly benefits a traded sector industry, as defined in ORS 285B.280; and

The total cost of the project equals or exceeds:

$150 million; or

$40 million, if the project is located in a rural area.

The minimum total costs required under subsection (1)(c) of this section shall be adjusted each year for the property tax year beginning on July 1 by multiplying $150 million and $40 million, respectively, by the ratio of the increase, if any, in the monthly averaged Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, West Region, for the 12 consecutive months ending December 31 of the prior calendar year over the monthly averaged index for the 12 consecutive months ending December 31, 2023. The amount of any increase determined under this subsection shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100,000.

In addition to and not in lieu of the determination described in subsection (1) of this section, the State of Oregon, acting through the Oregon Business Development Commission, shall determine that real and personal property constituting a project shall receive the tax exemption provided in ORS 307.123 if:

The requirements of subsection (1) of this section are met; and

The project is to be constructed or installed in a strategic investment zone established under ORS 285C.623.

Notwithstanding subsection (1) or (3) of this section, property may not qualify for the tax exemption under ORS 307.123 if the property:

Was previously owned or leased by the business firm benefiting from the tax exemption;

Was previously exempt under ORS 307.123 for any period of time; or

If located in a strategic investment zone, is not newly constructed or newly installed property.

The State of Oregon, acting through the State Treasurer, may authorize and issue revenue bonds for an eligible project that qualifies for exemption under ORS 307.123 if the project also is eligible for funding through the issuance of revenue bonds under ORS 285B.320 to 285B.371.

A business firm that will be benefited by an eligible project shall:

Enter into a first-source hiring agreement with a publicly funded job training provider that will remain in effect until the end of the tax exemption period; and

Hold a job fair after placing a timely announcement of the job fair through WorkSource Oregon.

If an eligible project is leased or subleased to any person, the lessee shall be required to pay property taxes levied upon or with respect to the leased premises only in accordance with ORS 307.123.

For purposes of determining the assessment and taxation of the eligible project in ORS 307.123 and the calculation of the community services fee in ORS 285C.609

, the Oregon Business Development Commission, when it determines that the project is an eligible project, shall:

Describe the real and personal property to be included in the eligible project;

Establish the maximum value of the property subject to exemption; or

Employ a comparable method to define the eligible project.

Property of an eligible project that is currently exempt under ORS 307.123 may remain exempt for any remaining period of exemption allowed under ORS 307.123 upon the property being acquired by a business firm that is different from the business firm that initially benefited from the exemption, if the acquiring firm satisfies all applicable requirements under ORS 285C.600 to 285C.635 and assumes the obligations, conditions, requirements and other terms of the agreement described in ORS 285C.609 (4). [Formerly 285B.383; 2005 c.237 §4; 2023 c.298 §36]

Laws 2023, provides: Sec. 41. (1) The amendments to ORS 285C.606 by section 36 of this 2023 Act apply to property determined to be an eligible project on or after the effective date of this 2023 Act [September 24, 2023] for property tax years beginning on or after July 1, 2024.

The amendments to ORS 285C.609 by section 38 of this 2023 Act apply to agreements negotiated by counties, cities and ports on or after the effective date of this 2023 Act for property tax years beginning on or after July 1, 2024.