Last week, one month after being denied a two-year extension of a three-year property tax waiver related to the $1.4 billion cost of constructing its west Eugene plant, Hynix requested a three-year property tax waiver for $156 million in equipment upgrades it wants to make en route to producing next-generation chips there by the end of the year.

The request is being made under the west Eugene enterprise zone program. It was created by the City and Lane County in 1987 and closed to new participants in 1997, but those who got in can continue locking in property tax benefits until 2007.

Hynix is asking for the benefit without meeting one of the heretofore always met requirements: the investment must be accompanied by an increase in employment of 10%, in this case about 90 jobs. On the other hand, state rules, say cities and counties may waive that requirement if more than $25 million is being spent.