Bill gives local Habitat chapter financial boost

Last week, Governor Kate Brown helped Sisters Habitat for Humanity keep about $10,000 a year in its coffers.

The governor signed House Bill 2690, which provides a property tax exemption for proven nonprofit housing developers that acquire land for the purpose of building low-income housing. HB 2690 allows nonprofits to hold the land tax-exempt for seven years from the time of application. 

The bill was co-sponsored by local Rep. Gene Whisnant, and board members and staff of Sisters Habitat for Humanity traveled to Salem earlier this year to lobby for its passage.

"For us it means that the 17 lots we have now, we don't have to pay property taxes on," said Sisters Habitat Executive Director Sharlene Weed.

That amounts to about $10,000 per year that can go back toward building houses, Weed told The Nugget.

Construction costs for a Habitat home run about $70,000 she said.

Seeing the bill take effect was good news for the local affiliate, which saw taxes on some of its lots double last year.

"It'll really help," Weed said.