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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2000)
Quail Valley Corporation seeks annexation to Banks Quail Valley Golf Course Corporation wants their proper ty to be annexed into the City of Banks, a move that requires several preliminary steps. Don Kilgras, manager of Quail Valley Golf Course (QV), appeared before the Banks City Council at a special meet ing October 25 to ask that the city prepare three amendments for consideration by the Plan ning Commission. The pro posed amendments were origi nally presented to the Planning Commission in August, then re ferred back to Council in Sep tember. At that time, the Coun cil asked City Attorney Jim Lu cas and Planner K.J. Won to review the following QV pro posals: - Change the definition of the Community Facilities Zone to eliminate the requirement that such property be owned by public or semi-public agencies. - Include the property within the Urban Growth Boundary. This could be done only upon amendment of the Urban Plan ning Area Agreement with Washington County and voter approval of the annexation. -Am end the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance map to designate the QV prop erty as a Community Facilities Zone. This would also require voter approval of the annexa tion. Acting Mayor Bob Orlowski said that this was a process “unique to the golf course” and that approval of the request for consideration required no com mitment from the city. Coun cilor Judy Clifford questioned Kilgras closely regarding Quail Valley’s interests. Kilgras responded that QV would be interested in “provid ing some of the housing" in the future if the population in creased and it was allowed by Washington County. Referring to the city’s vision ing process two years ago, Councilor Tim Hardie request- Please see page 10 V-BAT spreads wings....... pg. 5 Gladys’ holiday recipes.... pg. 7 Computer Art exhibit...... pg. 9 Poetry workshop at Banks, pg. 10 BULK RATE U S. Postage Paid Permit No. 37 Vernonia, OR 97064 Attn: Leslie Larson UO Library-OMP Voi. 15, No 21 INSIDE: “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” FREE November 1, 2000 Property taxes jump in Mist and Vernonia “These are the most signifi Property tax bills are up only slightly from last year for most cant changes in the way forest property owners in Columbia land and timber are taxed County. At the same time, sub since 1977, when the sever stantial value increases will re ance tax was initiated to re sult in higher revenues for place an annual property tax many taxing districts. Just over on standing timber,” Linhares $35.38 million in property tax said. “For heavily forested es are being billed for the counties like Columbia County, county, cities, schools and the changes are dramatic and special districts, 8.7 percent will be felt by every property more than last year. Additionally, owner, not just those who own $794,639 will be collected for forest land.” Property taxes for residen such things as fire patrol and drainage district special as tial property in the Nehalem Valley will increase due to the sessments. Offsetting the good news, loss of severance tax revenue according to Columbia County this year, yet increases in over Assessor Tom Linhares, are all value will benefit the Ne across the board increases in halem Valley and Clatskanie tax rates due to a dramatic de more than other areas. Benefit, or not, the loss of crease in Western Oregon severance tax revenue, which timber severance taxes means is used to offset, or lower, tax that a typical tax bill will in rates. Severance tax this year crease 5.12 percent in the City was $74,777, compared to of Vernonia and 5.75 in the rur al areas of Vernonia. Mist- $2,567,247 last year. House Bill 3575, passed by Birkenfeld Rural Fire District the 1999 Legislature, changes property owners will groan with the way forest land and timber a 12.72 percent increase, the are taxed, resulting in lower second year in a row they have severance tax payments. (The had a double digit percentage next issue of The INDEPEN increase in property taxes. The market value of all tax DENT will include an article on the history and reasons behind able property increased 9.14 reduction of the timber sever percent, from $3.21 billion to ance tax.) The biggest impacts $3.50 billion. The market value will be in the western part of of most residential properties the county, with the Mist- increased two to six percent Birkenfeld tax rate increasing throughout the county. Howev 86.31 cents-per-thousand of er, rural Clatskanie properties assessed value. Vernonia area appreciated in value nine per tax rates increased 25.41 cent. Commercial properties cents-per-thousand. Tax rates increased an average of two in Clatskanie also increased percent, except in Scappoose 24.96 cents-per-thousand, but where improved commercial were offset by the Clatskanie properties increased nineteen Rural Fire District paying off percent. Commercial land val their bonded debt levy, for a re ues in Scappoose doubled this duction of 18.26 cents per year, now that there have been thousand. Tax rates in Scap enough sales of commercial poose, St. Helens and Rainier property to calculate the increased 11 to 12 cents-per- changes that have occurred Please see page 12 thousand.
