REMEMBERING THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY

Friends and neighbors, when spending this long weekend with your friends and families, please take a moment to remember and honor the Americans who gave all in service to our Country.

Thank you.

HB 2247 CARRIED BY REPRESENTATIVE 

SHELLY BOSHART DAVIS

Passed Through the House - Unanimously

I introduced HB 2247 at the request of my Linn County Board of Commissioners as a response to what we are seeing on the ground in Linn County.

HB 2247 – as introduced - allows the County Commission to adopt an ordinance to waive interest and penalties on delinquent property taxes, if it can be shown that delinquent property taxes are substantial, due to the impacts of the pandemic or 2020 wildfires.

Oregon statute currently locks in penalties and interest on delinquent filings. Under Oregon law, taxpayers are charged 16% annual interest on delinquent filings. The common penalty for delinquent real property taxes is an additional $250, and for business personal property taxes, the amount can range from 5% - 50% of tax due. There is no latitude on these penalties and interest.

I felt it was important to create this bill to provide the much-needed relief to our struggling property owners. Giving them time to recover without compounding more interest, incurring additional fees, or negative financial report filing against them.

Important points about this bill:

1. It’s permissive. County commissions can either adopt this ordinance or they can choose not to.
2. It’s temporary. It applies only to one property tax year, the 20-21 tax year.
3. It’s needed. Many of our constituents lost residences, rents, or business income due to either wildfires or the pandemic. 

Some of the other technical aspects of this bill include:

1. The bill is narrowed down to apply to only property owners who were current through Feb 2020 (eliminates chronic late payers).
2. We are late enough now in the tax year that the only people for whom this bill would apply are those who are truly the intended recipients.
3. This bill does not absolve the property owner from paying the back tax, just the interest penalty.
4. The bill requires a report to Legislative Revenue on revenue impacts to the counties so that they can be tracked.

HB 2247 was referred to the Senate President's desk for it's first reading. 

You can follow the progress of HB 2247 as it goes through the Senate here.

Click here to watch full video on HB 2247 from the House Floor 

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE:

Operational Cost Grant - Apply Today!

The Operational Cost Assistance Grant is for businesses that were particularly affected by the pandemic: restaurants, bars, gyms, brewpubs, theaters, bowling centers, and salons; with 100 or fewer employees. Open for applications until June 6. 

More information 

Online application

UNEMPLOYMENT:

Work Search Requirements Coming Back

FROM THE OREGON EMPLOYMENT DEPT:

As you may know, certain regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit requirements were paused or changed during the pandemic. Now that Oregon is on the road to recovery, work search requirements are being phased back in. The first work search requirement being restored is to register in WorkSource Oregon’s iMatchSkills® online system and create a Job Seeker profile by a certain deadline.

Due to the high volume of people registering and beginning to search for work, we are offering multiple deadlines over the next five weeks to make it easier to get through to your local WorkSource Oregon office, if you have any questions.

You will get a letter this summer telling you when you need to complete your work search requirements, and the deadline you need to complete them by. Your benefits WILL STOP  if you don’t complete these requirements by the deadline in YOUR letter.

Note that this currently only applies to people getting regular UI or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). At this time, it does NOT apply to people receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). We will have more information about work search requirements for PUA in the near future.

Anyone who restarts their regular unemployment claim will have to complete the registration process, as will anyone filing a new regular UI claim for benefits, even if it is because your claim expired. This requirement does not apply to you if you are not currently filing weekly unemployment claims.

For more details about work search requirements and how OED can help you return to work, visit unemployment.oregon.gov/ReturnToWork or call your local WorkSource office.

More information

SAFETY CAMP FOR KIDS!

FROM ALBANY PARKS AND REC:

Safety Camp is coming right up! A few spots are still available! Morning and afternoon sessions! Don't let the name deceive you....it is all about safety but we make it fun! Crafts, snacks, games and safety (boating safety, cyber-bullying, animal safety...etc) 

Sign up thru Albany Parks and Recreation!

Sign up here

More information about community activities and programs

A SPECIAL RECOGNITION

FROM LINN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE:

Thank you to Army Staff Sergeant Andrew Albrecht for presenting Sheriff Yon with a flag that was flown in honor of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue program in Qatar as part of Operation Spartan Shield. We are proud to be able to display the flag and the certificate commemorating this incredible honor. Thank you Andrew for your service and to all those who are and have served our great country!  

ALBANY TAKENA KIWANIS SCHOLARSHIPS

FROM ALBANY TAKENA KIWANIS:

Takena Kiwanis Honors Dessert was cancelled again this year, but we still honored 42 students from Albany Options, Santiam Christian, South Albany and West Albany High Schools. Of these, three students received our $1000 scholarship. The students are Seliah Greene (Santiam Christian), Kaimana Caspino (South Albany), and Megan Adamec (West Albany). Kaimana is pictured below with Takena Kiwanis president Abel Condrea.

ALBANY FIREFIGHTER

COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS

South Albany's Kaimana Caspino and Tabitha Bottemiller are this year's AFFCAF scholarship recipients. We support local seniors who have served Albany and are working towards their dreams. Congratulations Tabitha and Kaimana!

Every year, AFFCAF offers up to $1,500 dollars to South Albany High School, West Albany High School and Santiam Christian High School. 

Sidenote: Look at Kaimana go!

As always, my office is here for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any community event announcements, legislative questions, or concerns.

Stay tuned and stay involved!

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1415
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-389, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.ShellyBoshartDavis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boshartdavis