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the proposed enterprise zone boundary, and apply j ob quality standards to all investments made within <br />the zone. It is assumed that job quality standards will include provisions for attractive wages and <br />benefits, and that all companies would receive a minimum of two-thirds of the tax exemption benefit. <br />Companies not meeting the job quality standards would be subject to a payment of up to one-third of the <br />tax exemption benefit. <br /> <br />Experience suggests that larger companies with greater financial capacity are much more capable of <br />meeting job quality standards. The largest companies (Hynix for example) would have the greatest <br />opportunity to meet job quality standards, and would likely receive the full tax exemption benefit. <br />Experience also suggests that smaller companies are much more challenged in meeting job quality <br />standards. Therefore, it would be expected that these smaller companies would receive a smaller <br />proportional tax exemption benefit. <br /> <br />An objective included in the City's Growth Management Policies is the support and promotion of local <br />small businesses. The enterprise zone short-term tax exemption is an incentive for companies to make <br />capital expenditures that increase production capacity, increase employment, and ultimately elevate <br />wages as a result of increased production. Small businesses typically experience greater financing and <br />economic barriers associated with these capital expenditures. Therefore, the recapturing of a portion of <br />the tax exemption benefit from these smaller companies could inhibit their ability to expand. <br /> <br />It is important to recognize that any recaptured tax exemption benefit would come in the form of a <br />payment in lieu of taxes directly to the zone sponsor, and that all investments would be fully tax exempt <br />for tax assessment purposes (i.e. the tax assessor cannot grant a partial tax exemption under the <br />enterprise zone program). A prior ruling in the Oregon Tax Court determined that dollars recaptured by <br />the zone sponsor must be used for the public purpose of providing opportunities for groups of persons to <br />obtain employment. Because a greater proportion of the recaptured dollars would likely come from <br />smaller companies, the policy issue is whether or not these limited recaptured dollars are best used to <br />support these smaller companies (i.e. granting a full tax exemption), or utilized for an employment- <br />related public purpose considered to be a higher priority. <br /> <br />It is also important to recognize that the City will be responsible for monitoring compliance with locally <br />adopted job quality standards. Historically, there have been a significant number of new jobs created in <br />the program. If all new jobs are required to be monitored over a three year period, City staff will need to <br />spend a considerable amount of additional time and resources administering the program. <br /> <br />3. How "development ready" are the greenfield properties identified in the restricted boundary <br />option? <br /> <br />Awbre¥ Lane Property: The largest industrial greenfield site is the 229 acre Awbrey Lane property <br />owned by Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission, located at the northern most area of the <br />proposed enterprise zone. The site has significant development constraints, including an estimated 100 <br />acres of wetlands, which have not yet been designated. The City will be making recommendations <br />regarding wetland designations for this area within the next twelve months. Future development of the <br />site would require a more detailed study of the wetland areas, and most likely require significant <br />mitigation costs. Development of the site would also require significant water, sewer and road <br />infrastructure improvements. <br /> <br /> <br />