Know Your Candidates 2026: Steve Callaway, Washington County Commissioner, District 4
Washington County commissioner candidate Steve Callaway discussed the need to closely review tax incentives associated with data center projects in Hillsboro and Washington County. He said incentives should reflect current community priorities and provide benefits that match or exceed the public resources offered, amid a lawsuit challenging the incentives.
Steve Callaway, a former Hillsboro mayor and candidate for Washington County commissioner, said tax incentives connected to data center projects should undergo closer scrutiny. He argued that incentive programs created decades ago for companies such as Intel and Nike may not reflect current economic conditions, community priorities or the public costs associated with data centers.
Callaway also said Washington County should ensure that incentives protect public resources and provide communities with benefits equal to or greater than what they contribute. His comments came as a lawsuit challenges tax incentives tied to data center projects in Hillsboro and Washington County.