Google Deals Pour Millions into Wasco County
Wasco County in Oregon is receiving millions of dollars from Google's data center tax-abatement agreements, and county leaders are considering a long-term strategy to lock away up to $15 million in a fund until at least 2041. The county's relationship with Google stretches back over two decades, with the company paying fees and making targeted contributions during its exemption periods.
The county's Assessor and Tax Collector, Jill Amery, is scheduled to present a detailed report on how the property tax-abatement programs work and what Google's data centers are paying. The discussion comes as commissioners consider creating the Wasco County Endowment and Resiliency Fund, an endowment-style investment fund intended to turn temporary revenues from Strategic Investment Program agreements into a permanent source of income for future county needs.
The $15 million proposed for the fund would come from existing County Project Fund balances and add future county-retained SIP revenues, tax-abatement dollars, and investment earnings. The strategy is designed to build 'a self-sustaining financial cushion' rather than allowing temporary windfalls to finance short-term expansion.