OAR 628-010-0010: Harvest Tax Rate for OFRI

(1) The OFRI Board of Directors shall establish prior to November of each year the rate of privilege tax levied through the harvest tax, pursuant to ORS 321.017. (2) The privilege tax rate established annually by the OFRI Board of Directors shall not exceed or be contradictory to the limits set forth in the authorities established by ORS 321.017. (3) In order to carry out the duties, functions, and powers of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, the Oregon Forest Resources Institute Board of Directors will set the annual privilege tax rate levied through the harvest tax according to the following criteria: (a) Resources needed to implement the Oregon Forest Resources Institute’s budgetary programs; (b) Estimated harvest projections as determined by the Oregon Department of Forestry and the state economist. (4) The Institute Board of Directors may adjust the maximum tax rate prescribed by ORS 321.017 by the average annual increase in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding year, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, for Portland, Oregon, whenever it determines the existing maximum rate may be inadequate to meet anticipated increases in the Institute’s program costs, given projected harvest levels. (5) Opportunity for public comment on the annual privilege tax rate levied through the harvest tax as set by the Oregon Forest Resources Institute Board of Directors will be provided as part of the annual public meeting on the Oregon Forest Resources Institute’s proposed budget. Public notice of the meeting will be given at least 14 days prior to the date of the meeting. Copies of the budget will be available for public inspection under reasonable circumstances in the office of the State Forester and the office of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute.