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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 2020)
A2 THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2020 IN BRIEF Relief funds available to Oregon fishing businesses Financial assistance is available to Oregon fisher men and fishing-related businesses impacted by the coronavirus. An application period for nearly $16 million in fed eral CARES Act funds has opened and extends through Sept. 8. The money is available to a wide range of fish- ing-related businesses, from small fishing vessels run by a handful of one or two people to large processing operations. State leaders anticipate the federal funds will not be enough to address all the coronavirus impacts to the fish eries industry. They have provided an additional $2.5 million in state CARES Act relief funds. Oregon’s fisheries are vital to the economic and cul tural health of the state, Ed Bowles, fish division admin istrator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, said in a statement. “We know businesses on the front lines of these fish eries are hurting, and we hope these federal and state funds will help provide emergency relief for some of the pandemic’s impacts this past spring,” he said. A number of North Coast fishermen homeport in Oregon, but fish in Alaska. These fishermen will be able to claim any losses they might have realized from their Alaska fishing, according to Oregon fishery managers. For more information and for application materials, visit www.psmfc.org County holds session on Resiliency Project Clatsop County will hold an informational outreach session Thursday about the county’s plan to move essen tial county facilities outside of the tsunami inundation zone. The plan, also known as the “Resiliency Project,” calls for relocating the county’s Public Works Department facility and establishing alternate and evacuation routes. The virtual meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Visit the county’s website to register for the meeting. — The Astorian Inslee halts plans for Chehalis River dam OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has paused planning for a dam on the Chehalis River, ordering a look at other ways to prevent a repeat of a 2007 flood that swamped farms, killed scores of live stock and closed Interstate 5 halfway between Portland and Seattle and State Route 6 between Raymond and Chehalis. Inslee’s directive calls on the Chehalis Basin Board a seven-member board advised by state agencies, to come up with a “non-dam alternative to reducing flood damage.” A dam would block fish, eliminate spawning grounds and fill-in wetlands, according to an environmental report by the state Department of Ecology. — Capital Press DEATHS Aug. 9, 2020 PASTOR, David Frank, 74, of Cannon Beach, died in Cannon Beach. Ocean View Funeral & Cremation Service of Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. ON THE RECORD Criminal trespass • Matthew Topartzer, 43, was arrested Friday at Rite Aid in Warrenton for criminal trespass in the second degree. Dill • David Klimovich, 18, of Vancouver, Wash ington, was arrested Sun day on S.W. 18th Street and Whiskey Road in Warrenton for driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless endangerment. • Emily Ann Var gas, 33, of Astoria, was arrested Saturday on 36th Street and Lief Erik- son Drive in Astoria for DUII. PUBLIC MEETINGS TUESDAY Clatsop County Planning Commission, 10 a.m., (elec tronic meeting). Warrenton City Commission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 225 S. Main Ave. Lewis & Clark Fire Department Board, 6 p.m., main fire station, 34571 U.S. Highway 101 Business. Seaside School District, 6 p.m., (electronic meeting). WEDNESDAY Clatsop Community College Board of Directors, 5:30 p.m., special session, (electronic meeting). Clatsop County Board of Commissioners, 6 p.m., (elec tronic meeting). Wickiup Water District Board, 6:30 p.m., 92648 Svensen Market Road, Svensen. THURSDAY Seaside Civic and Convention Center Commission, 5 p.m., Seaside Civic and Convention Center, 415 First Ave. Gearhart Planning Commission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 698 Pacific Way. Warrenton-Hammond School Board, 7 p.m., (electronic meeting). the Astorian I Circulation phone number: Established July 1,1873 (USPS 035-000) 503-325-3211 . 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I Printed on \h(Y recycled paper Subscription rates Effective May 1,2019 MAIL (IN COUNTY) EZpay (per month).......................................................................................... $11.25 13 weeks in advance...................................................................................... $37.00 26 weeks in advance.......................................................................................$71.00 52 weeks in advance.................................................................................... $135.00 Out of County Rates available at 800-781 -3214 DIGITAL EZpay (per month)............................................................................................$8.00 RJ. Marx/The Astorian Several hundred people with opposing political views stood toe-to-toe at the Turnaround in Seaside on Saturday evening. Black Lives Matter demonstrators wore masks and hugged the south curb by the Prom, while supporters of President Donald Trump, generally unmasked with some carrying firearms, stood in front of the Lewis and Clark monument. Chants of'four more years'and'all lives matter'juxtaposed against shouts of'Black lives matter.' State lawmakers debate tax breaks for businesses Ideas to help close a budget gap By PETER WONG Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — As Oregon lawmakers opened their sec ond special session of the summer, political battle lines are being drawn over legis lation that would disconnect the state tax code from three federal business-related tax breaks passed earlier this year. The Legislature’s tax experts explained the pro posed measure last week at a virtual meeting of the House Revenue Committee. Advocates of state ser vices and schools say the measure would recoup $225 million for the state budget. But business groups argue that they need the cash gener ated by the federal provisions to revive their operations. Oregon’s state budget is on a two-year cycle — the current period ends June 30, 2021 — but taxes are col lected annually. Oregon’s tax code auto matically adopts federal tax- law changes, unless the Leg islature specifies otherwise. Although changes are uncommon, lawmakers did disconnect the state tax code for six years, starting in 1981, from accelerated write-offs for business that Congress passed as part of President Ronald Reagan’s tax cuts. The Legislature reconnected in 1987, the year after Con gress overhauled the federal tax code — and even with the change, Oregon taxpay ers got the largest tax cut up to that point in state history. The tax breaks were inserted into the CARES Act, the $2 trillion pandemic aid plan that Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed in March. But the pro visions drew attention only after the bill passed. ‘THE CURRENT PLAN FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION INCLUDES CUTS TO IMPORTANT SERVICES ALL OREGONIANS DEPEND ON. ’ the allowable deduction from 30% to 50% of adjusted tax able income for tax years 2019 and 2020, and lets a business choose 2019 as its base year instead of 2020. (Assuming the 2019 figure is greater than 2020, it would Patty Wentz | Fight for Our Future coalition allow a greater deduction for a business.) The state pro Budget gap For opponents, the state posal would leave the maxi For supporters, the pro measure would scale back mum at 30% and that a busi posed state measure would deductions and increase tax ness must use its adjusted retain an estimated $225 mil liability for businesses hop taxable income for 2020. lion for state coffers even as ing to retain cash as a result Net gain for state coffers: $44.4 million for the 2019- collections of personal and of the federal breaks. 21 cycle. corporate income taxes drop “The congressional lead during the downturn caused ers designed CARES Act • Net operating losses: usually can by the coronavirus pandemic provisions ... specifically to Businesses spread these in tax returns and shutdowns in business assist businesses experienc activity. Lawmakers during ing losses due to COVID, over several years. The fed allowing them to hang on eral change allows net oper the special session were con sidering $400 million in to scarce cash during this ating losses originating in tax spending cuts, $400 million extraordinarily challeng years 2018 and 2019 to be in fund shifts and other ways ing economic time,” Sandra carried back up to five years. to close a budget gap of more McDonough, the president of Those same operating losses Oregon Business & Industry, in 2018 and 2019, if carried than $1 billion. forward, can be used by busi “We cannot wait until said in written testimony. 2021 to plug this ($225 mil “Adopting (proposed nesses to offset 100% (instead of 80%) of their adjusted tax lion) hole. The Oregon Leg state measure) will demon able income in tax years 2019 islature must act during a strate that the Oregon Legis and 2020. The state proposal special session,” Patty Wentz lature prioritizes its own bud said on behalf of the Fight for get challenges over the needs would reinstate an 80% limit Our Future coalition. of Oregon’s private-sector on businesses for net oper “The current plan for the employers and the urgent ating losses originating in special session includes cuts imperative to restore lost 2018 and 2019 and used in tax years 2019 and 2020. Net to important services all Ore jobs.” A letter from the Portland gain for state coffers: $91.4 gonians depend on. While we appreciate the Legisla Business Alliance, which million in 2019-21. • Limitations on net ture’s desire to protect some McDonough once led, makes business losses: The fed services by utilizing reserves a similar point: and not making across-the- “Instead of admitting this eral change eliminates lim its of $250,000 in losses — board cuts, we encourage you is a new tax burden on strug to go one step further and take gling businesses, they will $500,000 on a joint return action to protect everyday say this is simply a technical — for a S-corporation to Oregonians, not the wealthy.” change, impacting only a few offset income for tax years Daniel Hauser of the Ore wealthy Oregonians,” the 2018,2019 and 2020. Greater amounts can be converted gon Center for Public Policy, letter provided to the Port a think tank based in Port land Tribune said. “That’s into net operating losses that can be carried forward. (The simply not true. Many Ore land, said richer — and white — Oregonians will benefit gon businesses will lose change does not affect C-cor- most from the tax breaks. much-needed cash if this tax porations, which are larger businesses.) The state pro “They do not need more increase moves forward.” posal would disallow this tax breaks, especially when change for state tax returns. those resources could be Specific changes The federal provisions, Net gain for state coffers: used to relieve the suffering of Oregonians hit hardest by and how the proposed state $89.2 million in 2019-21. The Oregon Capital the pandemic,” Hauser, a tax legislation differs: and housing analyst, said in • Deductions for inter Bureau is a collaboration a paper filed with the House est costs on business loans: between EO Media Group The federal change increases and Pamplin Media Group. committee. Seaside code officer addresses backlog A closer look at vacation rentals By R.J. MARX The Astorian SEASIDE — Some vaca tion rentals haven’t been inspected in years. Owners advertise more occupancy than permitted. Cars spill over from driveways onto yards and into the street. These are some of the complaints Seaside code compliance officer Jeff Flory detailed to the Seaside Planning Commission this month. Flory, who started his job in the spring, said the first thing he does is pull a proper ty’s notice of decision allow ing a vacation rental per mit, whether the permit was issued by the commission or by the planning director. “I found one today that advertised for 16-plus occu pants, with multiple parking spots as well as plenty of off- street parking,” Flory said. “That’s being addressed.” Some owners may not be aware of their occupancy and parking limits, Flory said. “If you don’t have your notice of decision, we’ll get it out to you and we’ll go over it.” Outreach includes con tact with management com panies as well as property owners. Response has been good from all sides, Flory said. “Property management companies have been really good to work with. They are putting in processes to try to stop complaints from hap pening,” he said. “Owners have been real responsive. I’ve had very few issues of getting hold of people.” Neighbors should address complaints directly to the property owner or manage ment company, Flory said. Contact information will be made available on the city website. If action isn’t taken, Flory steps in. His goal, he said, is to “get people back to the table” and work through problems. For now, property own ers can expect a “little bit of grace” from the enforcement officer. “I’m saying to the own ers, show me that you’re working toward a solution,” Flory said. “We don’t nec essarily want to disrupt their rental season unless it’s a major safety issue, but we should still be working to some kind of solution.”
