SB 594 A- Rectifying Arduous Tax Reporting Requirements for Non-Profits

In March, a pastor from Washington County brought to Senator Starr’s attention a significant problem caused by an Oregon personal property tax reporting requirement. A meeting including the Senator and more than 50 local Pastors was quickly arranged to discuss their concerns and possible solutions.

Starr immediately began working with Washington County and the Oregon Department of Revenue to amend Oregon's law that requires non-profits and churches to provide a list of all their real and personal property, even if they are exempt from paying property taxes! All hospitals, churches, and other non-profits throughout the state were informed of this new reporting requirement in a January 2009 letter. For some of the larger organizations—such as hospitals—compliance has cost them upwards of $30,000 and hundreds of hours of additional work.

Senator Starr presented amendments to SB 594 in the House Revenue Committee fixing this out of date Oregon law.