Oregon 29th District State Senator Bill Hansell says he wants to wait to see more details before taking a position on a House Democrat leadership plan to create a new business tax to help fill a budget shortfall or any other business tax overhaul proposal.  The Athena Republican does say there needs to be more of an emphasis on containing state expenditures, otherwise it will be difficult to generate any GOP votes.  House Speaker Tina Kotek and other leaders in that chamber are proposing a tax of 95-one-hundreths of a percentage point on a sales by companies with more than five million dollars in Oregon sales, while smaller businesses would pay just 250 dollars.  The trio says it would raise $2.1 billion this biennium and commit a minimum 75 percent of revenue generated through business tax reform to education.

Baseball Columbia 9, Castle Rock 7   Boys Soccer LaCenter 7, Stevenson 0

The Hood River County School District budget committee passed the budget presented by staff for the 2017-18 school year.  District Superintendent Dan Goldman says they used an estimate of the state K-12 education funding number for the upcoming biennium of $8.02 billion dollars, and the budget includes $800,000 in program cuts and uses a little over $2 million dollars in reserve.  He says they will have less staff, cut back on book buying, reduce teacher training, and plan less maintenance and repair.  Goldman believes personnel reductions can be achieved through attrition.  The budget will go the district board for approval in June.

Three senior House Democrats released what are they are calling the Oregon Education Investment Initiative, which would replace Oregon’s corporate income tax system with a new Commercial Activity Tax.  The plan by House Speaker Tina Kotek, House Revenue Committee chair Phil Barnhart, and Ways and Means Committee co-chair Nancy Nathanson proposes a tax of 95-one-hundreths of a percentage point on a sales by companies with more than five million dollars in Oregon sales, while smaller businesses would pay just 250 dollars.  The trio says it would raise $2.1 billion this biennium and commit a minimum 75 percent of revenue generated through business tax reform to education.  Republican 59th District Representative John Huffman is skeptical this kind of gross receipts tax will get business support, and questions the need for it.  He calls for more cost containment measures.  The lawmakers also proposed $200 million in tax relief for low- and middle-income households.

The 30th annual Community Clean Up event in The Dalles will take place this Saturday.  The Dalles residents can dispose of yard debris and other unwanted items by taking them to the old Wasco County Public Works yard on Walnut Street between nine and three on Saturday.  Approach the site from the south on 10th Street and exit toward 6th.  Cindy Keever of The Dalles Public Works says people can help by looking around their own neighborhoods and icking up litter.  The Reuse Fair will once again encourage residents to bring usable goods, and residents will be allowed to take what they need. Those who dispose of items are asked to donate canned food to benefit The Dalles Area Food Share.  Details on the Clean Up are available by calling The Dalles Public Works at 541-296-5401, and during the event at 541-288-6267.

The Wasco County Pioneers Association is holding its 95th annual reunion and luncheon on Saturday at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center.  Association president Rod Runyon says everyone is welcome to attend and share stories and see numerous pictures about Wasco County’s history.  Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. with lunch available for 15 dollars at 11:30 a.m.  The guest speaker during the program that begins at 1 p.m. will be Marilyn Urness.  She will be talking about her new book “Chinatown.”

The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency board voted to delay default on a loan taken out by Sunshine Mill owner James Martin for building improvements and repairs on the property for 90 days to allow discussions to restructure the loan with a goal of the agency being repaid in full.  Martin had requested the agency forgive the $350,000 loan payment due May 15, but most of the board indicated they wanted the money repaid in full.  The vote for the 90 day delay was five to three, with John Fredrick, Linda Miller, and Steve Kramer opposed, and came after the board rejected two options Martin had submitted that called for forgiveness of that loan and a restructuring of a payment schedule for a $309,000 land sale agreement that comes due in May of next year.  Martin gave a lengthy presentation before the board deliberations, citing the jobs and other benefits that have come from redevelopment of Sunshine Mill, noting that a three-month issue with a supplier for the Copa di Vino single serving wine product produced there had led to a cash flow issue, adding his development had been unable to take advantage of urban renewal programs now available to other businesses.  Sunshine Mill and Copa di Vino are separate business entities.  The decision requires Sunshine Mill to pay three $10,000 interest only payments over the next three months.

Baseball King’s Way Christian 13, Stevenson 3   Boys Tennis Hood River Valley 5, The Dalles 3   Girls Lacrosse Hood River Valley 16, Summit 2:  Katherine Koenig scored six goals and Katherine McElderry four to lead the Eagles in the win.    

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Washington Congresswoman Jamie Herrera-Beutler are among the co-sponsors of a bipartisan bill introduced in both the Senate and House to extend payments to counties with federal forestlands for two years.  The bill would extend payments to counties through the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act, which was not extended for 2017.  The last SRS funds were paid to counties in March 2016.  The payments support public schools, public roads, forest health projects, emergency services and law enforcement in more than 700 counties nationwide.  A number of Senators and Representatives from western states are supporting the legislation.

Brian Schimel has been selected as North Wasco County School District 21’s new human resources director.  Schimel is currently executive director at Mosier Community School, and has been in that role since July 2013.  He has also worked in various roles in the Hermiston, Athena-Weston, and Umatilla school districts.  Schimel will begin his new job with D-21 at the start of July.