PUBLIC HEARING: HB 2257, HB 2452

PUBLIC HEARING & WORK SESSION:

HB 3359, HB 2446, HB 2054, HB 2449

WORK SESSION: SB 639

TAPES 113 A-B, 114 A

005

Chair Deckert

Calls meeting to order at 9:07 a.m.

PUBLIC HEARING, HB 3359

039

Mary Ayala

Gives overview of HB 3359 (EXHIBIT 1). Clarifies ORS308.558 by exempting from property tax, aircraft used or held by foreign-owned carriers. Applies to tax years retroactively beginning on or after July 1, 2004. This bill clarifies current law and is consistent with the attorney general’s position on this issue.

053

Pat Egan

Presents written testimony (EXHIBIT 2). Explains the reason this bill exists is that the Port of Portland has direct international nonstop flight service to Europe and Asia. Lufthansa got a property tax bill from the Oregon Dept. of Revenue and had never been taxed in any other state. The Port came to recognize that there is a unique body of law called Taxation of Vessels of International Commerce. The idea is that a flight that originates in one country and ends in another country only gets taxed in one country. Lufthansa is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany and is taxed in Germany.

094

Egan

Refers to a letter from DOR Director Elizabeth Harchenko (not an exhibit) that the state lacks the authority to levy this tax.

121

Chair Deckert

Asks why Mexicana Airlines was not assessed.

125

Egan

They were, and the Port heard from them and other foreign flights.

130

John Phillips

DOR assessed a Canadian flight, but later corrected it. DOR came to an understanding of the law. The key difference is, it’s not international flights, it’s foreign air carriers.

142

Chair Deckert

Asks how an assessment is done on foreign air carriers.

145

Egan

Believes it has to do with takeoffs and landings.

156

Phillips

DOR views this bill as a cleanup of the statute.

184

Ayala

Gives overview of HB 2257 (EXHIBIT 3). Corrects and simplifies statutes that pertain to authorizing bond issuance amounts. Gives background. References in the current statute are being deleted because they were unintended.

205

Chair Deckert

Asks for any testimony. Notes this is a clean-up bill. Closes public hearing.

213

Paul Warner

Gives overview of HB 2446 (EXHIBIT 4). Corrects errors and omissions in current Oregon tax statutes. Updates language. This is the reviser’s bill.

223

Sen. Prozanski

Comments on changing the term “non-urban” to “rural.”

241

Chair Deckert

 Agrees, that could be a problem. Closes public hearing.

245

Mazen Malik

Gives overview of HB 2054 (EXHIBIT 5). Directs Housing and Community Services Department to establish threshold property purchase price that triggers State Housing Council review of loans for single-family home ownership. Places maximums and establishes processes. Also it extends state treasury bonds from 42 years to 47 years.

285

Jack Kenny

Testifies in support of HB 2054 on behalf of Oregon Housing and Community Services (EXHIBIT 6). Oregon has led the nation in rise in housing costs over the last 10 years. This bill increases the loan period, which is necessary in order to meet HUD’s minimum allowable rent.

322

Sen. Prozanski

Asks Kenny for more information concerning HUD.

328

Kenny

Responds, one of OHCS’s main projects is to preserve Section 8 housing in depressed rural areas. HUD keeps us to market rates in rural areas. Rents are lower than what it takes to service debt, so OHCS has to increase the length of the loan. It helps first-time homebuyers who might not otherwise be able to afford a home.

351

Chair Deckert

Asks, what are the income criteria? Follow-up discussion.

359

Kenny

It is 100% or below median income, but OHCS strives to serve 80%. Median family income is $48,000. There are a lot of safeguards in the bill

401

Chair Deckert

Asks if there is a problem with loaning people more than they can afford.

411

Kenny

Responds, it’s the private sector mortgage lenders who determine who gets a loan, but OHCS’s default rate is a full percentage point below the national average.

419

Sen. Prozanski

MOTION: MOVES HB 2054 TO THE SENATE FLOOR WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.

423

Chair Deckert

ORDER: THERE BEING NO OBJECTION THE CHAIR SO ORDERS. VOTE: 3-0-2

VOTING AYE: METSGER, PROZANSKI, DECKERT

EXCUSED: GEORGE, C. STARR

433

Sen. Prozanski

MOTION: MOVES HB 2446 TO THE SENATE FLOOR WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.

435

Chair Deckert

ORDER: THERE BEING NO OBJECTION THE CHAIR SO ORDERS. VOTE: 3-0-2

VOTING AYE: METSGER, PROZANSKI, DECKERT

EXCUSED: GEORGE, C. STARR

030

Sen. Prozanski

MOTION: MOVES HB 2257 TO THE SENATE FLOOR WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.

033

Chair Deckert

ORDER: THERE BEING NO OBJECTION THE CHAIR SO ORDERS. VOTE: 3-0-2

VOTING AYE: METSGER, PROZANSKI, DECKERT

EXCUSED: GEORGE, C. STARR

040

Sen. Metsger

Comments, he has struggled with this bill but will support it.

044

Sen. Prozanski

MOTION: MOVES HB 3359 TO THE SENATE FLOOR WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.

046

Chair Deckert

ORDER: THERE BEING NO OBJECTION THE CHAIR SO ORDERS. VOTE: 3-0-2

VOTING AYE: METSGER, PROZANSKI, DECKERT

EXCUSED: GEORGE, C. STARR

049

Metsger

MOTION: MOVES THE RULES BE SUSPENDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECONSIDERING THE VOTE ON SB 639.

051

Chair Deckert

SEN. METSGER MOVES THE RULES BE SUSPENDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECONSIDERING THE VOTE ON SB 639. THOSE OF THE OPINION THAT THE RULES SHOULD BE SUSPENDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECONSIDERING THE VOTE ON SB 639 WILL VOTE “AYE” – THOSE OPPOSED “NO”. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.

VOTE: 3-0-2

VOTING AYE: METSGER, PROZANSKI, DECKERT

EXCUSED: GEORGE, C. STARR

064

Sen. Metsger

MR. CHAIR, I MOVE WE RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH SB 639 WAS SENT TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.

066

Chair Deckert

SEN. METSGER MOVES THAT WE RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH SB 639 WAS SENT TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE. DISCUSSION.

VOTE: 3-0-2

VOTING AYE: METSGER, PROZANSKI, DECKERT

EXCUSED: GEORGE, C. STARR

087

Steve Meyer

Begins review of SB 639-6 amendment (EXHIBIT 7). This bill clarifies who are eligible employees. The new language is on page 2, lines 5-7. Following that is language from SB 639-2 amendment concerning the public contracting code not applying, and language about not being able to exclude a carrier because it does not serve all counties. Page 2, middle, Oregon Educators Revolving Fund.

101

Meyer

Page 3, top, has language from SB 639-4. Adopts October as the starting month. Section 19, October date.

Page 4, bottom, language replaces reference to “public school teacher:”

121

Sen. Prozanski

Questions concerning certain changes.

135

Sen. Metsger

MOTION: MOVES ADOPTION OF THE SB 639-6 AMENDMENTS.

136

Chair Deckert

ORDER: THERE BEING NO OBJECTION THE CHAIR SO ORDERS. VOTE: 3-0-2

VOTING AYE: METSGER, PROZANSKI, DECKERT

EXCUSED: GEORGE, C. STARR

140

Sen. Metsger

MOTION: MOVES SB 639 AS AMENDED TO THE HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON BUDGETS WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.

145

Chair Deckert

Asks for any discussion.

147

Metsger

Hopes the budget committee will further revise this bill. Expresses concerns:

First, he is concerned that the exclusion of some large districts from this pool puts savings into questions. Lawmakers should make modifications to that so the bill will provide the intended benefit.

Second, he agrees that the makeup of the board is too weighted toward those it would benefit and should be modified.

Gives reasons why he is supporting this bill. Has not heard any testimony that suggests a negative cost to the state, but has questioned how much savings would occur. “If we’re going to take a risk I’d rather risk how much savings we’re actually going to make. If we don’t save much, we haven’t lost anything.”

183

Sen. Prozanski

Agrees with Sen. Metsger’s comments on his hopes for getting more dollars into the classrooms. Hopes the Budget Committee will hear this testimony. The bill could still be tweaked to make sure we maximize savings and get more money into the schools.

197

Chair Deckert

Responds, the exclusions will be addressed. Wants another look at the composition of the board. Would also like to place a trigger into the bill to allow a bid and see if savings do manifest themselves. This bill will be amended again.

214

Sen. Prozanski

The composition of the board is important. Criteria must be set for objectivity.

238

Chair Deckert

Repeats motion on the table. Asks for any discussion or objections.

240

Chair Deckert

ORDER: THERE BEING NO OBJECTION THE CHAIR SO ORDERS. VOTE: 3-0-2

VOTING AYE: METSGER, PROZANSKI, DECKERT

EXCUSED: GEORGE, C. STARR

235`

Lizbeth Martin-Mahar

Gives overview of HB 2449-A (EXHIBIT 8). DOR bill deals with technical issues of tax refunds and how they are apportioned among married couples. Specifies that the default for apportionment is based on the adjusted gross income of each spouse. The change is using “adjusted gross income” versus “gross earnings.” There is no revenue impact.

268

Debra Buchanan

Views this bill as a housekeeping measure (EXHIBIT 10). It says that whatever refund that is available to the taxpayers can be reapportioned in a way that does not offset the debt.

286

Chair Deckert

Asks Buchanan to walk the committee through the examples provided on exhibit 10.

292

Buchanan

Expands upon example 2: Ron and Joan filed a joint tax return.

329

Sen. Metsger

MOTION: MOVES HB 2449-A TO THE SENATE FLOOR WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.

331

Chair Deckert

ORDER: THERE BEING NO OBJECTIONS THE CHAIR SO ORDERS. VOTE: 3-0-2

VOTING AYE: METSGER, PROZANSKI, DECKERT

EXCUSED: GEORGE, C. STARR

355

Martin-Mahar

Gives overview of HB 2452-A (EXHIBIT 11). Provides guidelines for allowing pass through entities (ex: S-corporations and partnerships) to file a composite personal income or corporate excise tax return with DOR. Guidelines for nonresidents who are part of a composite return.

444

Martin-Mahar

Revenue impact will be minimal (EXHIBIT 12). Act will increase state general funds but only minimal. It gives DOR a mechanism to collect these taxes.

461

Chair Deckert

Asks DOR for examples how these recommendations would play out.

465

Buchanan

Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT 13). Gives two reasons why the composite return provisions were enacted: It is administratively simple for taxing agencies; it’s easier for nonresident members.

030

Buchanan

Gives an example of an Oregon partnership with rental property here but partners scattered across the country. The partnership can file one return instead of several. If a nonresident member has other Oregon income they don’t participate in that filing. What is different with this multi-state tax commission recommendation is that withholding can be required on nonresidents who choose not to participate in the composite filing.

063

Sen. Prozanski

Asks for an explanation of the changes made in HB 2452-A. Seems it would put more of a burden on DOR. Follow-up questions.

067

Buchanan

House committee raised concerns about setting up a new process to do the withholding. Solution was to allow them to file an affidavit saying they are complying. This is a check to make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing.

088

Sen. Prozanski

Asks if Buchanan feels comfortable with this change.

092

Buchanan

Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants raised a similar concern. This does give DOR rule-making authority. DOR is interested in trying to get another tool to help collect from non-compliers. Not interested in creating a burden on those who are complying. DOR is comfortable with this change.

102

Chair Deckert

Closes public hearing on HB 2452. Adjourns meeting at 10:10 a.m.