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The corporate minimum tax is based on sales, and unless Facebook has sales that originate in Oregon (which is highly unlikely anyway), they wouldn't be subject to the tax in the first place.

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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TryPod,

The little guys have the same access to this program as Facebook. There are seven small businesses in Prineville utilizing the enterprise zone as we speak.

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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Ed,

Since May of 2009, the Mayor of Prineville, Mike Wendel, and the County Judge, Mike McCabe, were heavily involved in numerous meetings about this project. The entire planning staff with the city, and the county planning director were also involved. This project was never "pushed" through by me as you suggest, becuase it had to get the support of community leaders. If you'd like to know just how hard I "pushed" you should call the mayor and judge and ask for yourself.

Also, the tax incentives offered to Facebook are available to any exisiting business in Prineville. It's not as if the company somehow got a "sweatheart" deal. Also, nothing is being taken away from the exisiting tax base, and nearly $500,000 of additional revenue will come into the city/county when the project is complete. This more than pays for the impacts to police/fire, which are minimal anyway.

As for the citizens having to pay for this, that too, is false. Facebook is paying for all the infrastructure in order to operate. They will build a substation and own and operation themselves, which takes the burden off Pacifc Power. Also, the company paid it's full SDC's for city development costs, will repave Tom McCall road when construction is complete, and also paid nearly 200,000 to help improve the interection of Tom McCall and Hwy 126.

The city council and county court had months to weigh this program. I spent time with each of them individually and provided all the information I could, including impacts. Some of the councilors also took it upon themselves to speak with staff about the project. So your accusation of me being like a used car salesman is insidious at best. I'm sorry you have chosen to attack my character without knowing any details of the project.

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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