Avis Rent a Car v. Multnomah Co.
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IN THE MAGISTRATE DIVISION OF THE OREGON TAX COURT Property Tax AVIS RENT A CAR, Plaintiff, v. MULTNOMAH COUNTY ASSESSOR and DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, STATE OF OREGON, Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) No. 982349C DECISION Plaintiff is a rental car company operating out of the Portland International Airport, which is owned and operated by the Port of Portland (Port), a political subdivision of the State of Oregon whose property is exempt from taxation. Plaintiff asserts the property it occupies is exempt from ad valorem taxation under ORS 307.090 for the 199697 tax year. The issue is whether the property, owned by the Port, qualifies for exemption under ORS 307.090, or whether the operating agreements between the Port and the five rental car companies constitute leases, bringing the property within the exception found in ORS 307.110(1). Plaintiff appealed the same issue 1 to the Oregon Tax Court and the court found the property taxable under ORS 307.110(1). Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. v. Dept. 1 That consolidated appeal, involving five rental car companies, concerned tax years 1990-91 through 1995-96. DECISION 1 of Rev., 14 OTR 487 (1998). On appeal, the Oregon Supreme Court, sitting en banc, affirmed the Tax Court s opinion. Justice Kulingoski, writing for the court, concluded * * * despite the limited use by the Port and third parties, taxpayers enjoyed exclusive possession of the principal character of the property. Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. v. Dept. of Rev., 330 Or 35, 41, 995 P2d 1163 (2000). The court affirmed the tax court s holding that " [taxpayers] ha[d] sufficient control and exclusive rights to constitute an interest subject to taxation under ORS 307.110. " Id. That opinion is dispositive. IT IS THE DECISION OF THIS COURT that this case is hereby reactivated. IT IS FURTHER DECIDED that Plaintiff's requested relief is hereby denied. The assessments are affirmed. Dated this _____ day of June, 2000. _________________________________ DAN ROBINSON MAGISTRATE IF YOU WANT TO APPEAL THIS DECISION, FILE A COMPLAINT IN THE REGULAR DIVISION OF THE OREGON TAX COURT, FOURTH FLOOR, 1241 STATE ST., SALEM, OR 97310. YOUR COMPLAINT MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE DECISION OR THIS DECISION BECOMES FINAL AND CANNOT BE CHANGED. THIS DOCUMENT WAS SIGNED BY MAGISTRATE DAN ROBINSON ON JUNE 22, 2000. THE COURT FILED THIS DOCUMENT ON JUNE 22, 2000. DECISION 2
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