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Cowlitz County commissioners warn Port of Woodland tax‑increment plan could divert local revenues
Summary
Commissioners raised objections to the Port of Woodland’s plan to form a tax‑increment financing area under House Bill 1189 (2021), saying a proposed 5,000‑acre, 25‑year district would freeze base tax revenue for local governments and divert increases to the port, with county staff and commissioners citing multimillion‑dollar impacts.
Cowlitz County commissioners on March 4 discussed a Port of Woodland proposal to form a tax‑increment area under House Bill 1189 (2021), warning the designation could divert future tax receipts from the county, the city of Woodland and local fire protection service to the port for up to 25 years.
Commissioners said the port’s proposal covers roughly 5,000 acres in the Woodland area and that, under the tax‑increment mechanism, the assessed value for affected taxing districts is effectively frozen at the time of designation; any increase in tax revenue above that frozen base would go to the port to finance development. The board discussed projected revenue impacts the port supplied during its planning materials.
Accordin…
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