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Finance Committee refers two revenue-appeals board appointments to full council
Summary
The Finance Committee voted to forward the mayor’s nominations to the Revenue Division Appeals Board, including a reappointment and a new appointment, after staff described the board’s role and qualifications required by Portland City Code.
The Portland City Council Finance Committee voted to forward two appointments to the Revenue Division Appeals Board to the full City Council on Monday.
City Chief Financial Officer Jonas Berry said the nominations would fill two seats on the five-member board that hears appeals from taxpayers who disagree with the Revenue Division’s final determinations. The committee acted after a short staff presentation explaining the board’s duties and the qualifications required by Portland City Code.
Salida Holt, interim audit and accounting manager for the Revenue Division, told the committee the board (RDAB) rules on appeals after the division issues final determinations that cite the code and explain adjustments. She said the board is intended to provide expertise in accounting methods and tax law and that the division had conducted targeted outreach to increase board diversity.
Berry introduced the two prospective appointees as a reappointment of Adam (surname as listed on agenda) and a new appointee, Freeman. Holt said Adam currently chairs RDAB and is a licensed CPA and managing partner and CEO of Cobalt PC; Freeman is a licensed CPA and senior manager at Geffen Mescher with more than 20 years of tax experience. Holt added that Metro’s intergovernmental approval for the new appointee had been received.
Committee members offered brief praise for the candidates and asked routine conflict-of-interest questions. Committee members asked whether any household members of the new appointee were city employees; Freeman responded that no one in his household is a city employee.
Vice Chair Burghini moved to accept the report and refer the nominations to the full council; Councillor Green seconded. The motion passed; the committee recorded the recommendation as referred to City Council.
The Revenue Division handles several city and partner-agency taxes, including business and personal income taxes, the transient lodging tax, utility license fee and the clean energy surcharge. RDAB is a volunteer body that decides whether the Revenue Division’s adjustments to filed returns were correct after hearing testimony and reviewing case facts. Appointments to the board are made by the mayor and are subject to City Council approval. Terms are two or three years and staggered to reduce disruption when vacancies arise.
The committee thanked the volunteers and staff for the report and noted the appointments will come before the full council for final confirmation.
