[OMS_MANAGERS] FW: For Immediate Release: OEDA TIF Committee Statement on TIF Uses for Business Assistance

Thu Mar 26 07:51:48 PDT 2020

This email is being forwarded over the OMS listserv. All responses will be over the listserv.
See -attached. Important info re: use of TIF (Urban Renewal) funds.
From: Mary Bosch <mary at marketekinc.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 4:36 PM
To: STUART Sheri * OPRD <Sheri.Stuart at oregon.gov>
Cc: OEDA Director <director at oeda.biz>
Subject: Fwd: For Immediate Release: OEDA TIF Committee Statement on TIF Uses for Business Assistance

Hi Sheri,
From Avery Pickard, ED at OEDA.
Mary Bosch
MARKETEK
503.504.6770

Begin forwarded message:
From: director at oeda.biz<mailto:director at oeda.biz>
Date: March 25, 2020 at 4:07:52 PM PDT
To: Mary Bosch Marketek <mary at marketekinc.com<mailto:mary at marketekinc.com>>
Subject: FW:  For Immediate Release: OEDA TIF Committee Statement on TIF Uses for Business Assistance
Reply-To: <director at oeda.biz<mailto:director at oeda.biz>>

Mary,

Would you mind forwarding to your contact at the Main Street group? I actually don’t have a good contact there although I should. This should reach that group as I know the urban renewal conversation is happening a few places right now.  Thank you and I hope you are well!

Avery P.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 25, 2020
Contact: Avery Pickard
541.623.0064
www.oeda.biz<http://www.oeda.biz>

director at oeda.biz<mailto:director at oeda.biz>

OEDA TIF Committee Statement on use of Tax Increment Finance Funds
Related to Coronavirus Response

Oregon- Today Oregon Economic Development Association (OEDA) and its Tax Increment Finance (Urban Renewal) Committee is releasing guidance on the use of tax increment funds for response related to coronavirus impact on business:

In the midst of this crisis, we recognize that communities are leaving no stone unturned to locate funding to support businesses. Several communities have reached out about whether jurisdictions can utilize Tax Increment, or urban renewal, funds to create loan or grant programs to support businesses.

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is No.

It is the longstanding interpretation in Oregon that other than TIF administration for running the program, funds may only be used for capital infrastructure. Years of discussion with taxing districts, professional trainings, and best practices recommendations have reinforced the standard that communities may not use TIF for functions like marketing, promotions, business salaries, operational costs, routine maintenance, and the like.

A use of funds that ignores statute and interpretive precedent to meet a pressing need could put this critical tool at risk after this crisis and be held up as a reason why the tool requires more oversight, more restrictions in statute, or why it merits elimination altogether.

Our organization held internal conversations to discuss this option and even explored re-examining governing statute ORS 457 in an upcoming special session. In consultation with our team and with taxing district partners at Special Districts of Oregon (SDAO) our organization do not see a path forward.

One legal option that communities may wish to consider is an under-levy to access more unrestricted funds. This maneuver would be formalized through the jurisdictional budget process and would proportionately under-levy to all taxing districts. This memo<https://oeda.biz/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020-UR-agency-memo-_underlevy.pdf> prepared by key TIF consulting partner Elaine Howard Consulting LLC provides more information on this option.

We join TIF partners and the economic development community in continued work to bring to bear every assistance strategy available and are inspired by the tireless work occurring in communities across Oregon to respond to this virus and its impacts.

If practitioners in in your communities have questions, please have them contact Avery Pickard, OEDA Executive Director at director at oeda.biz<mailto:director at oeda.biz>.

About Oregon Economic Development Association: OEDA is the statewide association for Oregon’s economic development community that works on the front line in job creation and expansion of Oregon's economy. OEDA’s TIF Committee specializes in advocacy, education and best practices regarding tax increment finance.

Oregon Economic Development Association

https://oeda.biz<https://oeda.biz/>

(541) 623-0064

OEDA Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/OregonEcoDev/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/OregonEcoDev> | LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/oregon-economic-development-association/>

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