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Corvallis School Board backs city tax-exemption policies to spur housing; two resolutions pass unanimously
Summary
The school board voted unanimously April 16 to adopt two resolutions bringing the city’s multi-unit and low-income rental property tax-exemption programs into compliance with state rules; city staff said the programs have helped unlock private investment and will include a 'but-for' financial analysis for affordable housing contributions.
The Corvallis School Board voted unanimously April 16 to adopt two resolutions requested by Corvallis city staff that the presenters said are needed to keep the city’s housing-incentive programs compliant with state law.
Christopher Jacobs, Corvallis/Benton County economic-development manager, told the board the city’s Multi-Unit Property Tax Exemption (MUPTE) program and the Low-Income Rental Property tax-exemption program have enabled significant downtown housing projects. "It is set to double the number of residents living downtown," Jacobs said, and he told the board the city has seen "investments of $158 million in just two applications." Jacobs and Brigita Olsson, the city’s housing and neighborhood services manager, said the programs require a financial “but-for” analysis to demonstrate that the project needs the exemption to proceed and that the city would continue to solicit the district’s view when an application could have a net-negative impact on district revenue.
Board motions read the cited state statutes: Resolution 26-0401 references ORS 307.600–307.637 (multi-unit/property tax exemption authority) and Resolution 26-0402 references ORS 307.515–307.537 and ORS 307.540–307.548 (low-income rental exemptions). The motions were moved and seconded and the roll-call sequence in the meeting record shows all present board members voting “yes.”
District staff and city presenters emphasized that the board’s resolutions are a procedural step to meet state requirements and do not remove the board’s opportunity to provide recommendations to city council about the fiscal impact of particular applications. Presenters said that when a future application is brought forward, the district will receive an analysis and an opportunity to share a recommendation with the council.
What the board adopted: - Resolution 26-0401 (supporting Corvallis MUPTE policy under ORS 307.600–307.637) — approved unanimously. - Resolution 26-0402 (supporting Corvallis low-income rental property tax-exemption policy under ORS 307.515–307.537 and ORS 307.540–307.548) — approved unanimously.
Why it matters: City officials argued the exemptions are commonly used tools to attract mixed-use and affordable housing in constrained downtown sites; they said exempted projects still generate heavier commercial tax revenue than prior low-value uses and that the programs include affordable-housing contributions and compliance checks. The board will be asked to provide a formal recommendation on individual projects if the city forwards an application.
The board did not adopt any change to its future review process at the meeting beyond the procedural resolutions; board members asked for clarity about how the district will be informed and how the district’s financial concerns will be reflected in city deliberations.
