News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
A contingent of Sisters Habitat for Humanity members ventured to Salem last Thursday for Habitat Oregon's first-ever "lobby day." Thirty-five people from Habitat affiliates around Oregon met with their legislators to discuss the Affordable Homeownership Taxation Bill and to raise awareness of Habitat's work throughout the state.
House Bill 2690 would clarify a tax exemption for properties Habitat affiliates are holding for future home building. According to the text of the measure, HB 2690 "exempts from property taxation land acquired and held by (a) nonprofit corporation for building residences to be sold to individuals whose income is not greater than 80 percent of area median income."
The Sisters group, made up of Executive Director Sharlene Weed, board members Lynn Jones and Clark Brody, and homeowner and ReStore Manager Robin Tawney, met with Representative John Huffman and Senator Ted Ferrioli.
"It was great to spend time at the Capitol advocating for Habitat," said Weed. "We had a positive reception from our representatives and we are hopeful that the bill will pass. If it does we will have around $10,000 a year more to spend on providing affordable housing here in Sisters."
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