Item 3: Ratification of IGR Actions

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Title: Exempts from property taxation dwelling provided by religious organization for its spiritual leader and lot on which dwelling is located. Provides that exemption does not apply if spiritual leader occupies another residence as primary dwelling or if religious organization or occupant of dwelling receives pay for use of property, unless pay is for foster care provided in dwelling. Applies to property tax years beginning on or after July 1, 2010. Sponsored by: By Senator MONROE (at the request of Don LaFont) URL:http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/sb0300.dir/sb0351.intro.pdf ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation Larry Hill Larry Hill CS-FIN 2/2/2009 Pri 1 Yes YesII. A2 Oppose Comments: SB 351 would have a negative financial impact on the City of Eugene. It would expand the existing property tax exemption for religious property. The statutes currently exempt property used for public worship, administration, education, literary, benevolent, charitable, entertainment and recreational purposes by religious organizations. SB 351 would expand that exemption to include a dwelling and lot provided by a religious organization and used by a spirtual leader as a primary residence. Current state law already exempts religious property with a assessed value of $3.1 billion. In the "2009-11 Tax Expenditure Report" the Oregon Department of Revenue extimates that curent law will result in a loss of $39.6 million in local property tax revenue, and an accompanying shift of $14.7 million to other taxpayer, in the 2009-11 biennium. SB 351 would increase these negative impacts on local governments and schools. Curently within Eugene about $2.3 billion in otherwise taxable property value is exempted under the dozens of kinds of property tax exemptions in state statutes. This would produce about $15.8 million revenue for the City's General Fund if it were not exempt property. There are continuing efforts in the Legislature to expand current exemptions and add new exemptions, each of which would reduce City revenue further. SB 0352 Relating Clause: Relating to sobriety checkpoints; prescribing an effective date. Title: Authorizes law enforcement agencies to establish sobriety checkpoints. Takes effect only if Senate Joint Resolution 7 (2009) is approved by people at special election held on same date as next primary election. Takes effect on effective date of constitutional amendment proposed in Senate Joint Resolution 7 (2009). Sponsored by: Senator MONROE URL:http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/sb0300.dir/sb0352.intro.pdf RespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation Contact E. Cushman M. Gilbert EPD-ADM 2/3/2009 Pri 2 Yes YesV. C7 Support Comments: We strongly support this bill, which would authorize the use of sobriety checkpoints to detect impaired drivers *only if* the voters approve an amendment to the Oregon Constitution authorizing them. The bill would require that such checkpoints be conducted in accordance with guidelines issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. We've come a long way over the past three decades with respect to reducing the DUII problem but, as evidenced in the recent very tragic events locally, we still have a long way to go. Across this country we are still seeing the deaths of over 40,000 people and many times that number permenantly maimed and injured. A large percentage of those are still attributed to impaired driving. Studies have shown that for every one DUII arrested, 500 to 2000 more go driving down the road uncontacted. The variance is dependent upon the level of DUII enforcement any given area gives to the problem, thus proving the effectiveness of good DUII enforcement. In the areas where the incidence of 19