Government
Ruth Miles accepts Secretary of State, Bev Clarno’s offer to be the new Corporation Division Director
Director, Corporation Division, and Tribal Liaison By Greg Henderson As Interim Director, Ruth oversees registration of businesses and nonprofits for the Secretary of State, along with a diverse portfolio including notary commissioning and the state’s UCC system. She also serves as the agency’s tribal liaison. Ruth previously served as the Secretary’s inaugural Small Business Ombudsman,…
Read More“Corporate Activity Tax” update
By Greg Henderson The Oregon Department of Revenue (DOR) is seeking input about the administrative rules for the state’s new “Corporate Activity Tax” from business taxpayers and tax preparers. Traveling across Oregon, rule writers are sitting down to hear the concerns, questions and suggestions of those affected by the rules. “We’re touring the state to…
Read MoreOregon’s New Gross Receipts Tax What It Means to Oregon Businesses
By Greg Henderson August 27, 2019 On May 16, 2019, Governor Kate Brown signed House Bill 3427 into law. The legislation accomplishes the following: Establishes a “Fund for Student Success” that is separate and distinct from the state’s general fund. Adopts a new Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) imposed on all types of business entities. Every…
Read MoreCoastal Economic Summit highlights climate challenges, opportunities for communities
Legislative and community leaders dive deep at Oregon Coastal Caucus Economic Summit August 22, 2019 FLORENCE, Ore. – While many topics – from earthquake preparedness to rural broadband expansion – were discussed, it became clear throughout the Oregon Coastal Caucus Economic Summit that many challenges our coastal communities face trace a line back to our…
Read More5 Ways To Make the Missing Middle Less Missing
A July 2019 report from Bloomberg explores the decline in Missing Middle housing in the United States—and it turns out it’s more missing than ever. This graphic from Bloomberg using Census data shows the decline in the share of missing-middle (blue) housing among all multifamily housing construction, even as very large apartment buildings (light gray)…
Read MoreData Beginning to Clear the Way for a Rate Cut
Central Takeaway If You Don’t Have Any Time This Morning: The Fed hastily delivered a soothing message last week by promising to act appropriately to maintain the expansion. It was hard not to read that as dovish. That combined with the employment data puts a rate cut in play this summer. Things That You Should…
Read MoreSupport your county fair. It’s good business.
Be sure to visit county fairs this summer. Did you know that the county fair is a key economic driver is Oregon? Below is a list of all county fairs in Oregon from oregonfairs.org
Read MoreAffordable Housing and Services for Farmworker Families in Oregon
The city of Forest Grove in Washington County, Oregon is located just inside the Portland metropolitan area’s urban growth boundary, and is nearly surrounded by land zoned for agriculture and forest use. In the most recent step toward meeting the need for affordable farmworker housing in Forest Grove, a nonprofit affordable housing developer completed the…
Read MoreTrade Wars Heat Up with New Assault on Mexico
One way or another, President Trump is going to drag the Fed into his trade wars. Tonight Trump announced via Twitter that imports from Mexico would face a 5% beginning June 10. The tariff could rise as high as 25% unless Mexico acts to stem the flow of refugees from Central America. It’s not clear…
Read MoreAre Rural Communities Being Ignored?
By: Apollo Fuhriman, Region 10 AdvocateIn April, I met with county council members from Union and Wallowa Counties in Northeast Oregon. These elected officials described several significant long-term issues arising from federally owned lands. Approximately half of the land in these counties is controlled by the federal government, so timely implementation of federal regulations is…
Read MoreBenton County Adopts Transient Lodging Tax
At a recent Board of Commissioners meeting, the proposal to implement a transient lodging tax passed unanimously. This tax does not directly affect County residents since tourists and visitors primarily stay in hotels and other lodging facilities within the County. As allowed under ORS 320.300, Benton County will impose a 3% county-wide Transient Lodging Tax…
Read MoreCommissioner Melissa Cribbins to Join Leaders in County Government for Intensive Leadership Program in Nation’s Capital
AOC CONTACT: Megan Chuinard | 503-400-3235 | NACo CONTACT: Paul Guequierre | 202-942-4271 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Melissa Cribbins, Coos County Commissioner and Second Vice President of Association of Oregon Counties Board of Directors has been accepted as one of a select group of leaders in county government from across the country to participate in the…
Read More