The cities of North Bend and Coos Bay have agreed to give ORC another five years of free county services. Enterprise zones are setup to encourage Oregon businesses to invest in economically depressed areas.
“The health, safety and welfare of the people of this state are dependent upon the
continued encouragement, development, growth and expansion of employment, business, industry and commerce throughout all regions of the state, but especially in those communities at the center of or outside of major metropolitan areas for which geography may act as an economic hindrance. . . .”
Two more taxing districts must approve the extension, the Port, which will be hearing the matter in a special session Friday, and the County. My objection to granting the chromite strip mining firm a tax exemption lies in the quote above that I put in bold type. Geography is precisely why ORC is here, they want the geological benefits only available in our geographic location.
At least one city councilor felt the same way.
Councilman Mark Daily cast the only no vote, saying a $300,000 return instead of several million in taxes on a plant that has few location options isn’t worth it.
‘To me, it doesn’t make any sense,” he said.
Refreshing to know there is a voice of reason on the Coos Bay City Council. Thank you, Mark Daily.
Unfortunately for city services and struggling local schools Coos Bay Mayor Jeff McKeown’s view job creation offsets the abatement, prevailed. McKeown believes ORC will begin paying taxes on the $45M improvements in five years. If they are still in business in five years they might but if they close up shop in three years as they did in Brantley County, Georgia…
Please contact the commissioners and the Port and argue against accepting this extension. All the taxing districts must agree. My understanding is it only takes one refusal to have ORC begin paying its fair share of county services. There are three signatures required from the County Commission.
Write, call or email the BOC to decline the exemption.
