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Hello friends and neighbors,
Spring is finally here, and I hope you had the chance to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. Earlier this week I published a newsletter recapping the 2024 legislative session, but there is more to share! Read on for information on state investments in our community, my recent interview on KLCC's On the Record, and some great resources for constituents as we head into tax season.
Join me and State Representatives Nancy Nathanson, Paul Holvey, and Charlie Conrad, along with State Senators Floyd Prozanski and James Manning for a joint legislative town hall this Saturday, March 23rd from 3-5 pm at Harris Hall (125 E 8th Ave, Eugene). We’ll share highlights from the 2024 legislative session and answer questions about the legislature’s work. You can RSVP or submit a question in advance here. We hope you can attend!
Housing, homelessness, and addiction are affecting the whole state, but you sent me to Salem to get things done for the folks here at home. During the 2024 session, I was proud to work with my legislative colleagues in the Eugene/Springfield area to secure funding to support projects that will make a difference in our community, including:
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$1.5 million to Homes for Good Housing Agency for the Ollie Court Housing Project. Homes for Good Housing Agency, Head Start of Lane County, and Early Childhood CARES have formed a partnership to develop an innovative model for housing that will co-locate 81 units of new affordable housing with a six-classroom early learning center to address the need for affordable housing and affordable childcare in our community. A mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units will accommodate different households sizes. The development will consist of two four-story buildings centered around community green space and parking for residents.
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$4 million to Willamette Family, Inc. for the construction of the Willamette Family Medical Detox and Resident Services facility. This new facility will provide 33 additional slots to support community members in crisis or who are struggling with addiction.
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$6 million to the City of Eugene for water and sewer infrastructure improvements along Crow Road to support the development of hundreds of new homes within the urban growth boundary. Investments in this area could also bring more than 850 jobs to our community.
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$7.5 million to Lane County for the Lane County Multi-Use Facility – an open-air facility that can host concerts, shows, youth sports and local tournaments, community events, and serve as the new home for the Eugene Emeralds baseball team. A portion of the facility will be designed to have immediate occupancy requirements to be able to host disaster and emergency response teams as a command center for first responders. This funding is “last in” – meaning it will only be deployed if all the other funding sources for the project come through (including Eugene residents passing a $15 million bond measure that will appear on ballots in May).
I recently had the chance to chat with KLCC's Michael Dunne on his program Oregon on the Record. We talked about my new role as Speaker of the House and recapped some of the big accomplishments from the 2024 session. You can listen to that interview here. |
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Oregon Taxpayer Advocate
It’s tax season! For many Oregonians, it’s as simple as hopping on their computer and plugging in their W-2 – but for some it can be a complicated and sometimes daunting task. In 2019, I introduced and passed HB 3373, which created the Taxpayer Advocate Office in the Department of Revenue (DOR), tasked with helping taxpayers resolve problems related to tax and debt collection programs administered by the Department. This concept came to my attention when my office worked with a constituent to address a complex and challenging tax case. That situation reinforced the need for resources within DOR dedicated to working directly with taxpayers and ensuring that tax law is implemented fairly.
The Taxpayer Advocate Office is available to all Oregonians, completely free of charge. They can help identify issues or barriers to equitable and fair tax collection, suggest solutions to taxpayer issues that exist through normal channels, and provide expedited services to taxpayers whose problems are not resolved through ordinary channels. If you or someone you know needs assistance, contact their office at (503) 378-4988 or visit their website.
Oregon Kids Credit
You may be eligible for the Oregon Kids Credit!
During the 2023 legislative session, Oregon Democrats championed the effort to create Oregon’s first-ever state-based child tax credit through HB 3235, which is a fully refundable $1,000 tax credit per child between the ages of 0 and 5 for families earning $30,000 or less.
The amount of credit is based on age and number of dependent children, and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), but even people who don’t owe any tax can claim the refundable credits. For those with a MAGI of $25,000 or less, the full credit is $1,000 per child for up to five dependent children ages 0 to 5 at the end of the tax year. The credit is reduced when MAGI is more than $25,000 and is eliminated at $30,000.
ITIN filers and individuals with qualifying dependents with ITINs may claim the Oregon Kids Credit. All filing statuses are eligible for the credit except for Married Filing Separate.
Oregon families can apply for this credit when they file their tax returns in 2024. Since the credit is refundable, the portion of credit that is more than what a person owes will be refunded to them. 55,000 children across Oregon are expected to benefit from this credit, with higher representation in rural communities and communities of color.
More information about the Oregon Kids Credit and other tax benefits can be found on the Department of Revenue’s Tax Benefit for Families webpage. Free tax preparation assistance can be found on the Department of Revenue’s Free Tax Help webpage.
The Department of Revenue has opened an office in Eugene!
Taxpayers in the southern Willamette Valley can now file their returns using a special kiosk set up in the Eugene Regional Office at 1600 Valley River Drive, Suite 310 in Eugene. The kiosk can be used to file taxes through free fillable forms and Direct File Oregon e-file options.
The Eugene office is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday (closed for lunch 12:30-1:30pm) No appointment is necessary. Use of the computer to file taxes is on a first-come, first-served basis. Employees cannot help prepare returns but can answer basic questions.
Whether in session or out, my office and I are always here to help! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need assistance navigating local or state government services or to share your thoughts and ideas on the issues facing our community and state.
Yours truly,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1414
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-295, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/fahey
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