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commissioners
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015
-Mason
County Journal - Page A-9
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie@masoncoun com
Developers of multi-family,
low and moderate-income hous-
ing in parts of the Belfair, Allyn
and Shelton Urban Growth Ar-
eas may now qualify for eight-
or 12-year property tax breaks
in Mason County.
The Mason County Board of
Commissioners unanimously
voted after a public hearing
Tuesday to adopt an ordinance
and a new chapter in Mason
County code establishing its
Multi-Family Housing Tax In-
centive Program.
"The motion carries, let the
COUNTY BRIEFS
building begin," county Commis-
sioner Randy Neatherlin said.
Commissioners said the new
program will increase low-in-
come housing for county resi-
dents and promote business de-
velopment in the county.
"It's going to make the area
attractive for retail," Commis-
sioner Terri Jeffreys said.
Jeffreys said the program
will likely lead to development
in Belfair, and create new hook-
ups for the Belfair sewer.
Applicants for the eight-year
tax exemption must commit
to renting or selling at least
20 percent of the multi-family
housing units as affordable
housing to low- and moderate-
income households.
For the eight-year tax exemp-
tion, low income means a single
person, family or household liv-
ing at or below 80 percent of
Mason County's median income.
Moderate income means a house-
hold living with an income of be-
tween 80 percent and 115 percent
of the county's median income.
Jeffreys said 80 percent of
Mason County's median in-
come amounts to about $47,450,
meaning the county's median in-
come is about $59,000.
The county used the U.S. De-
partment of Housing and Urban
Development's data on median
household income to calculate
this number.
Applicants applying for the
12-year tax exemption must
rent or sell at least 50 percent of
housing units to low- or moder-
ate-income households.
For the purposes of the 12-
year exemption, low income
means households with income
that is 50 percent of the county's
median income, and moderate
income means households earn-
ing 80 percent of the county's
median income.
Tax incentives for develop-
ers of low-income, multi-family
housing have previously been
allowed in urban areas, but not
rural areas.
Senate bill 6339, sponsored
state Rep. Tim Sheldon (D-Pot-
lach), which was signed into law
in 2014, allows such programs
specffically in Mason County.
"It wasn't an easy bill to pass.
This only applies to counties with
a population between 50,000 and
71,000 bordering Puget Sound,"
Sheldon said. "We're a little in
the spotlight here."
The county will be allowed to
grant the tax exemption for the
next four years, and would then
need to get an exte ion from the
state Legislature to continue of-
fering the exemption to new con-
struction projects.
plan hearing Feb. 17
The Mason County Planning Ad-
visory Commission has scheduled a
public hearing for 6 p.m. Feb. 17 to
review proposed changes to the county
comprehensive plan and collect public
testimony on those proposed changes.
State law requires that the county
review and update its Comprehensive
Plan and Development Regulations by
June 30, 2016.
For more information on the pro-
posed changes, call Barbara Adkins at
427-9670, ext. 286.
Members sought
for committee
Mason County Public Works is
seeking members of the public to serve
on the Mason County Solid Waste Ad-
visory Committee.
The committee reviews policies on
solid waste and waste management,
among other tasks.
Members serve a three-year term.
To apply, call the Mason County
Commission office at 427-9670, ext.
419, or go to co.mason.wa.us.
Applications will be accepted until
positions are filled.
County approves
$412K in grants
The Mason County Board of Commis-
sioners approved nine grants Tuesday,
totaling $412,719, for programs designed
to reduce or prevent homelessness.
The Mason County Housing Au-
thority Board recommended that the
county approve the grants.
Funding for the grants is collected
through county document recording fees.
Grants include:
• $35,000 to Turning Pointe Do-
mestic Violence shelter for shelter
operations
• $34,735 to North Mason Resourc-
es for an advocate for homeless people
• $130,994 to St. David of Wales
Episcopal Church for its HOST program
• $$31,550 to St. David of Wales Epis-
copal Church for a housing case manager
• $15,000 to St. David of Wales Epis-
copal Church for its cold weather shelter
• $20,000 to the North Mason School
District for its cold weather shelter
• $43,065 to Crossroads Housing
for homeless shelter operations
• $12,000 to Crossroads Housing
for transitional housing
• $90,375 to Crossroads Housing
for rental assistance.
• Compiled by reporter Natalie Johnson
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