Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (March 23, 2016)
Polk County News 8A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 23, 2016 Cities, counties sort out taxes, laws around recreational pot Independence to prepare ballot measure to collect 3 percent sales tax on marijuana sales in town By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — Be- tween Feb. 1 and March 4, the Oregon Department of Revenue collected $3.48 mil- lion in taxes on recreational marijuana. Part of that — 10 percent to cities and 10 percent to counties — will be distrib- uted to Polk County and its cities, based on population. At least until July 2017, when distribution will be based on the number of licensees. And in Dallas, where de- velopment codes prohibit businesses that do not com- ply with federal law, essen- tially banning marijuana businesses, none of that money will come. Dallas, Falls City, Independ- ence and Monmouth city councils each passed a local tax on both medical and recre- ational marijuana in 2014 prior to Measure 91 passing, in an attempt to boost general funds and pay for additional law enforcement. Those laws are null and void, said Mark Pettinger, marijuana spokesman with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. “There is an opportunity for local cities and counties that do license recreational sales to tack on a local sales tax up to 3 percent,” he said. “That has to be referred to local voters. It can’t be done automatically.” According to the Oregon law on marijuana, a 3 per- cent local sales tax may be approved by voters in a gen- eral election, so cities and counties will have to wait two more years if they don’t get a measure on the ballot for November, Pettinger said. Independence City Recorder Karin Johnson said the city is already working on a measure for the No- vember ballot to approve a 3 percent sales tax. Independence has two medical marijuana dispen- saries, Blackbird Indica and Healing Green, both of which have sold recreational products since Oct. 1. At the end of the year, medical dispensaries will not be able to sell recre- ational products, Pettinger said, but recreational sellers will be able to offer medical- grade cannabis products. “It is expected that many medical marijuana dispen- saries will be converting to recreational license retail stores,” he said. “The idea is to still be able to provide medicine to folks who have a medical need for cannabis.” The city of Monmouth has not put any restrictions on locations for either med- ical dispensaries or recre- ational stores, Monmouth City Manager Scott McClure said, noting that a shop could locate anywhere on Main Street in downtown, for example. “A couple retailers have tried, but couldn’t work out anything with the land owner,” he said. Dallas has not passed an ordinance against marijua- na dispensaries or retail shops, but has relied on the development code to pre- vent marijuana business be- cause it does not comply with federal law. “The fact of the matter is, until the feds change their laws and make it so it’s not against the law, it’s going to remain in place as far as the city council is concerned,” Dallas City Manager Ron Foggin said. See TAX, Page 9A Evangelical Bible Church EASTER Sunday, March 27, 2016 Worship Services 8:00 am & 10:45 am Everyone Welcome! 1175 Howe St., Dallas 503-623-2331 • www.ebcdallas.org Trinity Lutheran Church 320 SE Fir Villa, Dallas 503-623-2233 www.dallastlc.org 6:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Easter Sunrise Service Easter Celebration with Holy Communion Breakfast — Free will donation Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt Youth Bake Sale — Before and after worship In celebration of the day, please bring a canned food item to benefit the Dallas Food Bank. Come celebrate Easter with us at the Dallas United Methodist church Thursday, March 24 - Tennebrae 6:00 p.m. Easter Sunday - Children’s Egg Hunt 10:00 a.m. Easter Worship 11:00 a.m. Rev. J. Quinton Kimbrow Childcare Provided Handicapped Accessible www.umcdallas.com 565 SE LaCreole Dr. • Next to the Middle School • 503-623-2481 Good Friday March 25 Easter Egg Dash ~ March 26 5:00pm 1st Service 6:30pm 2nd Service 10:00am - For ages 0-5th Grade Egg’stra Special Egg Hunt ~ March 26 1:00-2:30pm - For kids with special needs EASTER ~ MARCH 27 8:00-9:00 ~ 1st Service & Coffee Fellowship (No kids programs during 1st) 9:30-10:30 ~ 2nd Service & Coffee Fellowship 11:00-12:00 ~ 3rd Service 598 E. Ellendale Ave., Dallas, OR ~ 5036234961 Please join us in worship at these times. March 25 Good Friday Prayer Vigil Noon - 7 pm and 8pm - Midnight Good Friday Tenebrae 7:00 pm - Service of Darkness Easter Sunday 7:30 am - Sunrise Eucharist 8:30 -10 am - Easter Breakfast 10:30 am - Festival Eucharist Faith Lutheran Church 200 Monmouth - Independence Hwy Monmouth • 503-838-3459 The Church on the “S-Curves” Pastor Dallas C.R. Dubke • www.FaithLutheranMonmouth.org
