community
june1
2017
SAFE of Columbia
County Welcomes
New Executive Director
20th Annual Memorial Day Service
The Board of Directors of
SAFE of Columbia County has an-
nounced that Ellyn Bell has been
named the new Executive Director.
Bell has worked as an or-
ganizational leader with at-risk
and marginalized youth in the ju-
venile justice system, foster care,
and in family services. She has also
been a strong and active leader in
the movement to address sexual
and domestic violence for over 20
years, and worked extensively with
human trafficking in San Francis-
co.
Memorial Day was observed on May 29 at the Vernonia Memorial
Cemetery. The grounds were prepared by Scout Troop 860,
the Vernonia Cemetery Committee, and other volunteers.
Salem Report
9
Her personal experiences
and challenges as a youth informed
her career choice. She holds a Mas-
ter’s Degree in Religion, with an
emphasis in Theology. Her under-
graduate degree is in Sociology and
Anthropology. She also received
her social work license in the State
of Iowa.
Bell is a yoga teacher, a
dancer, and a published author. She
is mother to two wonderful people
who are now extraordinary young
adults.
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continued from page 5
Johnson voting no, and it is now in the House Rules
Committee.
A big part of the Legislature’s job is to try
and anticipate future needs. It’s a challenge because
we have to consider a wide range of factors, including
the impact of federal policies on our economy, but we
have experienced and reliable staff to help us parse the
numbers. Recently the Office of Economic Analysis
presented the latest Revenue Forecast to the Legisla-
ture, and it’s this information that will provide the basis
for the 2017-19 budget. The news is mixed: Our econ-
omy continues to do better than the national average,
although there are signs that the growth is beginning
to slow down as we reach full employment. Oregon’s
Creatures LLC
jobless rate is 3.7%, while the national rate is 4.6%.
In spite of these good numbers, we are still fac-
ing a $1.4 billion shortfall in order to fund our schools,
health care, human services and public safety at just
the current levels. The reasons for this are multi-facet-
ed, but the main reason is a wildly fluctuating income
stream that promotes a feast-or-famine economic cli-
mate. As described in my previous columns, over-
dependence on personal income taxes and the lowest
corporate taxes in the nation have paired up to make
long-term stability nearly impossible to achieve.
The Joint Committee on Tax Reform is work-
ing hard to come up with revenue enhancement that will
be both fair and adequate, and pass muster with the vot-
ers. Ways and Means has prepared budgets that slash
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over $600 million from current expenditures in order
to balance the budget. But even if all of this comes
together, there is yet another concern to contend with
and that is the Kicker, the arcane law passed in 1979,
that will require about $400 million in personal income
taxes be returned to individual taxpayers in 2018.
This law requires state economists to estimate
what we can expect income tax revenue to be over
the next two-year budget period, within 2%. This is a
thoroughly unrealistic expectation that has rarely been
met. If the actual revenue received exceeds the 2% es-
timate, then the entire excess must be returned to the
individual taxpayer. To compound matters, the kicker
is often triggered following a recession, just when the
state can least afford it. It is also interesting to note that
the estimated refund for the lowest 60% of taxpayers
ranges between $5 and $191. The top 1% will get back
about $4,500. This policy is in the constitution so any
changes must be approved by the voters.
It’s that time of the year when construction
projects start popping up in our district. As a heads-up
for drivers, be aware that speed limits will be strictly
enforced in work zone areas. Also, I intend to pass
along closures/restrictions as my office is notified.
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Bear Creek Pub
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