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
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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.