An Albany bond issue to pay for new police and fire stations should pass because those facilities are needed. But its passage will be made easier if the council makes sure the issue is not needlessly complicated by urban renewal. To be clear, if voters approve a general obligation bond issue of $20.3 million, as […]
Albany’s downtown urban renewal program is about to restart with a sharper focus on encouraging job creation and increasing the taxable value of the revitalization district known as CARA. For the past year, the program has been on hold while urban renewal manager Kate Porsche led the 14-member CARA advisory committee in monthly discussions of […]
The Oregon House today (May 28) is scheduled to vote on a sensible bill to correct an injustice dealing with property taxes and urban renewal, but it won’t do any good in Albany, at least not yet. The bill is HB 2632-A. It would remove local option levies approved by voters after January 1, 2013, […]
Albany’s downtown urban renewal district, CARA, expects to have a surplus of $1.25 million next budget year. It could decide to levy that much less in tax, which would benefit mostly the city of Albany, Linn County and indirectly the state school fund. But after discussing it on May 7, the CARA advisory board recommended […]
Albany city officials should no longer ignore the effect that the city’s downtown urban renewal district, CARA, has on other governmental services in Linn County. According to a breakdown presented by urban renewal manager Kate Porsche, local governments this budget year are forced to give up $2.2 million to the downtown district. In 2013-14, it’s […]
The Albany city government has a problem. It’s a problem with credibility and it’s connected with public safety and urban renewal. In March 2012, city voters approved a public-safety tax levy outside the city’s normal taxing authority. Voters were assured the money would go to the police and fire departments. Most of it does. But […]
Albany briefing: Neutralizing CARA as bond concern
The Albany city staff is following through on a pledge made by Wes Hare, the city manager, in connection with the scheduled Nov. 5 bond election for a new police station and main fire hall. Before the city council put that $20.3 million bond on the ballot, Hare said he would recommend that approval of […]
Tags: Albany bond issue, CARA