No argument that sales tax would hurt merchants
PORTLAND (AP)
— No one argues
that creation of nn
Oregon sales tax
would hurl business
for merchants along
the state s borders.
There is a lot of disagreement, howev
er. over how much retailers would lose
if they no longer could offer tax-free shop
ping to residents of surrounding states.
A Washington Department of Revenue
study figured that Oregon businesses
would lose $155 million a year in retail
sales if Oregonians adopt a sales tax. The
Oregon Legislature’s Revenue Office esti
mates sales losses of $125 million to $150
million a year.
Bui the privately financed Cascade Pol
icy Institute in Portland has published a
report estimating sales losses could run as
much as $.T2 billion a year and eliminate
16.000 jobs by a "very conservative esti
mate."
"Oregon has an unusual ratio of retail
sales to income almost certainly reflecting
a high migration of non-Oregonians into
tho state to buy non-taxable goods." wrote
Richard Voddor. an economics professor
at Ohio University and author of the report.
Lome |o Brown, who did the Washing
ton study, said Vedder failed to consider
that Portland's larger selection of stores
would continue to draw many Washing
ion shoppers.
Others said retail losses would not be
nearly as large as some have warned.
'I think it's a little overblown as far as
what the sales tax would do to the retail
business'' in Oregon, said John Newman,
district manager for Target Stores and
chairmon of the Oregon Retail Council.
Newman supports the 5 percent sales
tax plan that will be on the Nov. 9 ballot.
Money generated by the tax would be used
to pay for schools.
Several studies have determined that
retail spending in Oregon is above the
national average, which some believe is
fueled at least in part by tax-free shopping.
The one true positive we nave in ure
gon for retail sales is the lack of a sales
tax," said Jim Parsons, a broker handling
retail property. "What the sales tax would
do for this state is improve the economic
outlook in every state hut ours."
Others said Oregon's lack of a sales tax
also can be a selling point to attract peo
ple from beyond adjacent states
It is "one of the competitive factors”
in trying to draw meetings to Portland, said
Mike Smith, sales chief for the Oregon
Convention Center.
But some sales tax backers said the pre
sumed effects on retail sales are not very
important next to the need to have a well
educated work force
To get one of these
cards, students must be
prepared to answer
this multiple choice
question.
AT&T Universal MasterCard.
Offers the convenience of a MasterCard’ credit
card ihai s free of annual fees for life plus an
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AT&T Custom Calling'* Card.
U*ts you call the numbers that you and
your parents preselect, and have the
hill sent home
Which is the best calling card for students? There are three schools of thought—
the AT&T Universal MasterCard, the AT&T Calling Card, and the AT&T Custom Calling" Card.
Each one offers personalized services to meet your needs. It's all part of The / Plan."
Which means that no matter which card you choose, you can't fail.
16 apply, come by our booth on campus or call
1800 6540471, Ext. 4125.
AlCT
Forestry
conference
on Oct. 16
Those interested in promoting
urban tree awareness can attend
on urban forestry conference Oct.
16 from 8:.10 o.rn. until 3:30 p.m.
at the Huge no Public Works
Department.
Registrations are due Wednes
day for the Tree Hoard Volunteer
Networking and Visioning Con
ference. sponsored by the Oregon
Department of Forestry. Members
of community advisory and beau
tification committees, planning
commissions, park boards and
tree advisory committees are
encouraged to attend.
"This conference will focus on
ideas and techniques that can
make volunteer committees more
effective and promote greater tree
awareness," said Kristin Ramstad.
a community assistance forester
with the state forestry depart
ment. "Volunteer efforts have
become very important because
many communities have recent
ly been limited by significant
budget cuts "
Ramstad said the goals of the
i onference are to discuss com
munity forestry issues and to
inspire further action by tree
board volunteers Tree activists
and forestry experts art! sched
uled to speak at the conference.
A $5 registration fee is required
and people can register by con
tacting Ramstad at (145-7390.
ET ALS
MEETINGS
\SI () Siudrnt Srnalv will amt tonight M
b in I Ml' Century Hoorn l For more in for
nialioii, tiJi J4t>ut>30
Alpha Phi llmro will meet tonight from 6
to 7 in Room 110 Willamette For more infor
mation t dll 744 5S7f>
Sorlhwrst Human Rnuunr Management
A*mm latum will hunt an information tMdiiif
today ai it l$«.n in Room 201 Gilbvl
l-nbiiB. Gav and Bisesual Alliance will
in net tomght at 7 m the EMU Hoard Room
For more information. (..all 346*3360
A merit an Marketing Asmx i at inn will host
an in format tort meeting tonight «t 6 in Room
3.13 Gilbert f or more information, call 465
3276
RELIGION
Wesley Foundation ( ampul Mmiatry will
unseen! "F irst Year Identity God. ('.ullage ami
You" for first-year rt udenU tonight from 6 30
to 7 30 at the Wesley Foundation. 1236 Kin
caid St For more information, call 346*4694
Campus Crusade for Chris! will present
Primetime" tonight st 8 05 in Room 231
Gilbert For more information, call 465-4375.
MISCELLANEOUS
Career Plaaaiag and Ptacsmeal Service
will hoet an office orientation today from 1 to
2pm and conduct an inlsrview skills work
•hop from 2:30 to 4 p m in Room 221 Fieri
drtcks Open sign-un for interviews begins
today at 8 am fur the following organize
tions U S Army fudge Advocate General's
Corps. KPMG Peat Marwick. Merck i Co .
Price Waterhouse. Moss Adams, and Usloitle
k Touche Those interested in bidding for
interviews must first attend an office orienta
tion For more information, call 346-3235
Deadline for uibnutting El Alt to the Emer
ald front de*k. Suite 300 EMU. it noon the
day before publication The new* editor doe*
not have a tune machine Et Alt run the day
of the event unlett the event take* place
before noon