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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 26, 1973)
— Editorial ~ Vote 'yes' f°r tax relief It has been far from a silent spring in Oregon. Governor Tom McCall’s property tax limitation and school tax revision plan to be voted on by Oregonians Tuesday has spawned shrill debate from those on both sides of the issue in every comer of the state. And while much of this debate with its name-calling and pettiness has served to cloud the issues involved, once the dust settles it becomes clear the plan is worthy of support. The Emerald urges a yes vote on the measure May 1. Basically, what the plan does is shift the burden of financial support for public schools from property taxes to higher state income taxes, a business profits tax on unincorporated businesses and increases corporate income taxes. It also limits federal deduction of Oregon taxes to $2,000. The plan would levy a uniform $7.50 per thousand dollar evaluation tax on all non-resident property with a con stitutional limit of $10.00 per thousand assessment. This $10.00 level would have to be enacted by the legislature. The plan also allows districts to ievy up to $2 per $1000 of assessed value on homes for enrichment programs within the district. For students, most of whom are renters, the governor’s tax plan will be a beneficial one as it passes property tax relief directly to the renter. Under the McCall plan, renters will receive nine percent of their annual rent as a tax credit against the income tax they owe the state. If the state owes the renter a refund, the tax credit will be added to the refund. It is possible that many students will also be classified “low income renters” and be credited with an additional 12 percent of their rent. Since most students do not earn a high enough annual income to have their income taxes drastically raised by the new schedules, they can only profit from the proposed tax package. The plan contains numerous ramifications for the state as a whole, the most important being the deliverance of property tax relief to the homeowner after a decade of promises from Oregon’s politicians. The basis of the tax plan is one of ability to pay. Consequently, those with higher incomes and businesses and corporations will be faced with carrying a greater portion of the tax burden. An estimated 80 percent of Oregon’s tax payers will wind up with a smaller total tax payment if the plan is approved. Opponents of the plan have argued that 55 of the state’s largest corporations will pay less taxes with this plan. This may be true, but their savings, when compared to the individual’s is minimal and many of these same corporations will cease saving money if and when the assessment level is upped to $10.00. Of course, the McCall plan will also have a tremendous impact on the public education system of the state. With its passage will come 95 percent funding from the state for public education. This means that districts, no matter how rich or poor they are, will receive basically the same amount of funding. The plan grants each district from $900 to $1200 per student within that district. During the next biennium, districts now spending less than $900 can improve their programs to that level. School districts spending more than $1200 will either have to trim that figure or persuade the legislature to raise the level of state grants. This means that many smaller school districts may have to consolidate in order to run more economical operations. The plan also means that voters will no longer be voting on school district budgets each year. Opponents have used this latter fact to charge that the state will grab local control away from the school districts. This argument, however, is a weak one. If anything, the system should improve the quality of local control. First, school board members may be elected for their ideas on education, not their ideas on how to pare the budget. Second, school boards will be less concerned with financial matters and can spend more time dealing with significant education problems. Since many school boards are now composed of people interested only in saving money and cutting school budgets to the bone, education and the needs and concerns of local citizens can only come out ahead. Besides, in view of the fact that an average turnout for such budget was only 15 percent of the registered voters, it is really questionable whether meaningful local control has been exercised in the past. The tax plan proposed by McCall is not without its faults. It relies heavily on a good economy, such as Oregon is experiencing at this time. Should income fall off, however, cuts in the education funding will have to be made unless drastic cuts are made in other programs. The tax plan could tend to have a discouraging effect on business coming into the state, which may be good or bad, depending on your respective viewpoint. However, in the final analysis, the plan’s good points definitely outweigh its bad ones. It provides tax relief for the home-owner. It also puts the tax burden on those more able to afford it. And finally it has significant meaning for education providing a secure financial stability. It is a tax plan deserving of voters’ support May 1. Letier$ Old hat The last ASUO primary (affectionately known as Fat Freddie’s Folly i was akin to the All American Dream, or what may be called Over-Choice. We had about as many “'earns” as brands of toothpaste. Well folks, grit your teeth, ‘cuz here comes an instant replay, especially edited to un confuse the average card-puncher. The upcoming shorter version (fewer candidates) should make it easier for you to read the small print on the label and not be overcome by the glossy advertising that the promoters may use. Don’t misread— me that is. If you have to sell something, you may as well use an esthetically pleasing package. But don’t be mislead by the catch-all phrases or utopian plans. Look into what the candidates are saying, not what they say they are saying. As for Paige and myself, we’ve decided to withdraw, and hopefully give the students a better chance at evaluating individual candidates. Being a “newcomer” to student government (or association) I’ve noticed something that some people may have lost sight of. That is, the ASUO is as good as the people in volved in it. Watch for the candidates who talk about getting rid of all of those up on “third floor,” or to use a catchy slogan—“when do the oppressed become the oppressor ” Because what they seem to be saying is “vote for me and I’ll guarantee a friend a job next year.” Well, now that I’ve gotten this far, I have a confession to make. There is someone that I support, and in fact, working my ass off to get them elected. But because of the Emerald policy, if I told you who it is, I wouldn’t be able to tell you why I support them 'because of the 250 word limit-one letter endorsement policy). And since reruns are in season, I thought a good ole fashion serial would be in order. So stay tuned folks and I’ll reveal my who and why in the next episode of “A day in the life of Newcomer,” which should make me an old hand by then. Richard Sanchez Student Whosoever will I would like to convey my most heartfr't sympathies to Tom Mascott and Lee Siegal. It is clear they have missed the point as far as God and his great love are concerned. Now I don’t mean to sound condescending simply because I know the path to happiness (admittedly simplistic yet nonetheless credible t while they refuse to recognize it. But goldarnit at least I have the courage, humility and wisdom to believe in my beloved Jesus, so that when I jump out of that great spiritual window (when I die) I’ll have the sandal straps of Him to grasp hold of to raise me up to eternal salvation—I won’t fall like Tom and Lee shall. Why don’t they just once and for all give in and believe? Think of it. One’s troubles can be over for all time! Why let the big old world with it’s poverty, pollution, crime, exploitation, discrimination, pie-in-the-sky idealism (oops, forget that please), over population, worker dissatisfaction, and other assorted grave problems worry you? Just sit yourself down in front of a Bible and read about how Jesus walked on water to save us all from drowning in sin. Besides, if Tom and Lee don’t start professing Christianity pretty soon, I’ll not invite them to my birthday party and they’ll miss out on all the nice ice-cream and cake! Then where will they be? And oh yes, if those two are having the sexual problems all sinners eventually have they would do well to remember, “ ‘Whosoever will’, let him come” Tom Drischler Junior, Sociology Thanks My thanks to C. Henderson for his perceptive television review “The gospel according to Jack Webb” in the April 19 Emerald. Ralph Kottke 3rd Year Law Voting ‘yes’ This letter is in reply to Professor Sampson’s letter in the Oregon Daily Emerald of April 19. I will vote “yes” on McCall's tax plan on May 1 and I know what I am doing. Earlier, in the Register Guard, Dr. Sampson complained his overall tax bill would rise by some six per cent (if I recall correctly), which is not surprising since his income is high and his property tax out in Dexter is much lower than in Eugene, I presume. In the Emerald he takes a different approach. Now he tries to scare people in higher education by saying that heavy reliance on income tax might prove disastrous for higher education in times of recession He does not mention that even during the Great Depression state income tax receipts kept right on climbing. In 1931 the State of Oregon collected more income tax than in 1930, in 1932 more than in 1931, etc. Also, under the McCall plan public schools may also have to do some belt tightening, right along with higher education, in case of lean years when income tax receipts do not rise as much as in good years. Besides, what are the alternatives? Another sales tax measure that will go down to defeat? Ifjhe voters do not pass the present tax plan, how can they be expected to approve another plan that is bound to be less advantageous for most of them? Perhaps Dr. Sampson will live to see the day when desperate voters pass an outright property tax limitation measure without provision for other revenues. Then, my dear Prof. Sampson, higher education’s roof will indeed collapse. Huibert Paul Asst. Prof, of Library Administration ^ library
