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About Sandy post. (Sandy, Oregon) 1938-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 1985)
2— SANDY (O re.) POST Thur».. Au« W IM S (Sec 1) The Sandy Post Editorial & Opinion Scott N ew ton, e d ito r The sales tax is a fair tax There are many good reasons for supporting Ballot Measure 1 and a few good reasons for voting against it. Of all the reasons for voting for it, we consider one issue to be paramount. The sales tax is a fair tax. If one can afford to go shopping, buy a new car or eat at a restaurant, one can af ford the tax. When times are tough, people are more conservative and put off big-ticket purchases, thereby reducing the tax bite. In addition to being fair, the 5 percent sales tax would be locked into the constitution and could only be changed by a vote of the people. That makes our proposed sales tax dif ferent from those of some other states, where residents have seen the tax climb. Another reason we favor the sales tax is because we believe it will indeed “balance” the tax structure. The relief to proper ty owners is long overdue, and Oregon’s income tax is too high. We need to face facts. Major corporations are not mov ing to Oregon because of the high property taxes the businesses would pay, and the high income taxes the ex ecutives would pay. Furthermore, it doesn’t make sense to pay for schools through property taxes, which are more appropriately spent on police and fire protection, and city services. At present a major portion of the money raised by property taxes goes to the schools. The sales tax legislation is more restrictive, limiting the annual growth of school tax bases from 6 percent to 3 percent. We also think the measure would help stabilize public educa tion. The current system of letting property owners decide bet ween their tax bill or the schools is not working. Local levy elections are not adding 2 cents worth of intelligent dialogue between school boards and the public. Concerned, involved people — the same ones serving on our boards now — will con tinue to make decisions based on need versus available resources Is the measure progressive? We think it is fair to lower- income people because it exempts life's necessities — groceries, utilities, prescription medicines and mortgage payments. What are the reasons for voting against a sales tax? It will create another layer of government, and collecting the tax will be an additional burden on businesses. We believe the cost of collecting the tax will be easily offset by tourist dollars, and businesses will be compensated for col lecting the tax. The best reason for not voting for the sales tax is that it will indeed be a hassle. If Ballot Measure 1 passes we are sura to hear people say, “ I remember when you could look at the price tag and that’s what you paid.” In reality, anyone who understands the basics of math will soon be able to add the additional 5 cents per dollar to the cost of purchase. There is currently a problem with Oregon’s tax structure. The sales tax may not be the best cure, but it is likely to be the best we wil, see in some time. The sales tax is fair. One pays it when one can afferd it. Personally speaking Underwear makes mother unhappy by JOY WOOD door in the back and one of the but tons was always missing, so the flap One of my daughters and I were was halfway folded down if you didn’t folding clothes one day, talking like watch it and keep it held up with the women do, and all of a sudden she elastic of your bloomers. said, “ This makes me so m ad!” Then, too, there were the folds, And so I asked, “ What? What overlapping at the ankles and wrists makes you so mad?” Because you wore them a ll week long And she a n s w e re d , “ T h is and only changed them when you underwear! That’s what makes me took a bath on Saturdays, the wrists mad.” and ankles of the long johns stretched And so I asked her, “ Why does your out more day by day, and you had to husband's underwear make you carefully wrap and fold them under m ad?" And she held up a pair of her your long stockings and sleeves. husband's shorts and said, “ We ll, And the garter belts we had to wear look at them. Just look at them. He's to hold up the stockings! They were worn them every since he got out of something else. the Navy nine years ago — and they I told my daughter that in those are still in good shape!” days, underwear lasted And lasted. I I said “ Oh,” and she continued “ I could always count on a new, used suppose they are Hanes, or F ruit of hand-me-down pair every fall I had the Loom, or whatever the Navy dozens of cousins as well as an older buys Like that commercial where brother that old lady, Inspector 12, stretches When I was about 10 years old, I and pulls them. I ’ll bet that’s what complained to my grandmother these are.” about my sad situation, and she con And then she held up a pair of her soled me by saying that at least I had undies and said. "Just look at these bloomers to wear. She said when she undies of mine. Barely a year old and was about my age she had made already they are in shreds There herself a pair of bloomers, and that should be an Inspector 12 for when she proudly showed them to her women’s undies.” father, he forbad her to wear them I agreed And so we got to talking He really hit the roof, she said about underwear. And I got to telling And so, I asked her what kind of un her about when I was a g irl. The dies she did have, and she said she underwear lasted then. We wore long had worn pantalets Just single legg johns. White cotton ones, under our ings attached to a waistband. With no bloomers, which were long legged (to seat in them at all. And I asked her, the knee) britches, with elastic at the “ Then how could you swing, and waist and the knees And the worst play?” And she said, “ Well, little g irl in town came to school one day ladies of 10 or so didn't play.” and swung high up in the swing so Talking to my daughter that day that everyone knew she didn't have got me to thinking about this whole her bloomers on, just her long johns underwear business, and I got to What a scandal! wondering what could be done about You could always tell when spring it. And, I thought, maybe we should had arrived as the girls came to go into the ladies undies business I school with their stockings rolled up could be an “ Inspector 12.” to their knees. My, but that was bold! Well, you never know where or No long johns on! when you w ill come across an idea The main problem with long johns that w ill make you your m illion was that there was a square trap dollars L egislative report Lottery dollars build a foundation The Oregon Legislature was faced with a number of major challenges and m ajor opportunities as the 1985 Legislative session convened »The prospect of disbursing an estimated $80 m illion in lottery revenue, ear marked by the people of Oregon for economic development, gave* us a m ajor opportunity to lay the founda tions for a new economic future for Oregon. Recently, Oregonians from across the state have c ritic iz e d past economic development efforts by the e x e c u tiv e b ra nch fo r la c k in g coherence and accountability. That criticism combined with the linger ing effects of the most serious reces sion since World War II and the slow, but significant economic s tr u c \ra l evolution of Oregon’s economy, were d ifficult and complex problems for the '85 Legislature to inherit. At the outset of the planning pro cess the Joint House-Senate Trade and Economic Development Com mittee drew up a set of guidelines to serve as a basis for allocating the lot tery funds. This was done after the committee heard months of testimony from Oregonians across the state on what should be done ith the Oregon lottery proceeds. The committee decided that the single most important ele ment in allocating the lottery money was the creation of family-wage jobs That was followed by the following priorities: recovery of small towns, development of rural areas, utiliza tion of higher education’s resources, support of small business, utilization of Oregon’s comparative advan tages, support of industries that com pete in national or international markets With these guidelines, the Trade ancj Economic Development Com mittee sought to build programs that would endure even after the initial surge of lottery revenues declines The committee recognized that the projected proceeds constitute only a drop in the $13 billion dollar bucket of capital already available in the private banking system, and in the $700 m illion bucket of underfunded infrastructure needs caused by re cent funding reductions in the higher education system C onsequently, the co m m itte e focused on the “ cutting edge” of development and on programs that could “ leverage” other funds To be cost effective, the program that the committee came up with uses existing agencies with proven track records whenever possible Briefly, I want to take this opportuni ty to give you a short list of exactly where your lottery dollars went. Oregon Resource and Technology Development Corporation Rapidly changing technology is creating new industries and new dynam ics w ith in tra d itio n a l in dustries The Oregon Resource and Technology Development Corpora tion w ill foster innovation in existing industries within the state. This w ill be done with Seed Capital Financing, Applied Research Grants and a Columbia. There has been $125,000 allocated for an exhibition of the Magna Carta in Oregon during 1986 And $500,000 was allocated for a “ Buy Oregon" program that would match Oregon businesses now buying goods and ser vices outside the state with local Oregon suppliers “ Buy Oregon” is based on a suc cessful pilot program now operating in Lane County. by Rep. Bob Shiprack T e c h n ic a l In fo rm a tio n C le a r inghouse A total of $10 m illion dollars was alloT»ated for this pro gram. Higher Education and Community Colleges Education, training and research through the higher education and community college system are essen tialto economic development. The legislature appropriated $33 4 m illion in lottery funds over a three- year period to construct classroom, office and laboratory facilities at four of the state’s m ajor campuses. These buildings w ill house pro grams with significant impacts on the state’s economic development prospects They include an Electrical and Computer Engineering Building a t O reg on S ta te U n iv e r s ity , Biological and Advanced Science Building at the University of Oregon, Laboratory Building at Oregon In- stitutde of Technology and a Profes sional Schools Building at Portland State University. Streamlining and Improving Small Business Loan Programs Oregon has operated several small lending programs designed to help the state’s businesses obtain capital needed for investment and expan sion These programs have helped about 120 of O regon's 60,000 businesses obtain new buildings and equipment needed to hire additional workers. A bill passed by the Trade and Economic Development Committee, Senate B ill 722, streamlines the ad m inistrative processes for these loan programs and better targets their assistance to businesses providing the greatest economic payback for the state. The Oregon Promotion and Marketing Fund Oregon has unique scenic and cultural attractions, industrial loca tion sites with special advantages and competent producers in the forest, farm and fishery industries Prom oting and m arketing these places and products can increase sales income to Oregon businesses and attract tourists and relocating firm s There has been $3.4 m illio n allocated for the Promotion and Marketing Fund, $2 m illion has been allocated for an Oregon pavillion at the Expo '86 in Vancouver, British provides $2 m illion funding for feasibility studies, and joint financ ing opportunity to su cie ssfq jly revive a m itt " 3 '* ’ ’ llu S |H . ial H Publie Work» Fund ” Public works, such as roads, sewer lines and water supply facilities play a critical role in supporting the growth and expansion of business in i Oregon Yet Oregon’s infrastructure is deteriorating to the point where may lim it future growth It will give us a good foundation to begin the battle of rebuilding the economy. The Economic .Stabilization and Conversion Fund Many Oregon communities have su ffe re d econom ic devastation resulting from permanent closure of one or more key employers. Many of the m ill closings are due to permanent and irreversible changes in the technology and economics of in d u s trie s such as tim b e r, agriculture and basic metals The Economic Stabilization and Conver sion Fund w ill provide Oregon com munities affected by plant closures with the resources to deal with these d ifficult situations Senate Hill 664 The Special Public Works Fun creates a program specific-all targetted to areas in which economi development is prevented or substai ttally restricted by a lack of adequat public works Some $23 2 m illion has been aj propriated for infrastructure pre jects. Certainly the $80 m illion expet te< in lottery revenues w ill not cun Oregon's economic woes Km it w il give us a good foundation to begin thi battle of rebuilding the economy That was our goal not just short term cures bu, a long term founda lion for Oregon’s future Letters to the editor Brewster Trust Fund used for exchanges The fam ily of Alex Brewster would like to thank all the people of this community who have offered their sympathy and prayers to us this past week To those who have contributed to the Alex Memorial Trust I would like to tell you how the funds w ill be used It seems very important now to establish something that w ill allow Alex’s memory to live on and that would also reflect his attitudes and ideals The Trust w ill establish a scholar ship for travel and exchange student activities To make it more perpetual and hopefully a very significant and growing fund, recipients would be asked to contribute back to the fund one-half of what they received at some time in the future when Un- are financially able The Trust coul be- added to in the future Alex had strong feelings aboi scholarships and how they should b administered so the example he si would be the guide lor choice and at ministration of the funds Alex seems to have touched man of your lives and we cherish ear story and memory that has bee shared with us I hope and pray, hi short 20 years w ill continue to hav an impact on those hi- knew We lov ed him very much Ginny, Ave, Kurt Carrie Christy and Amy Brewster and Vera Ayre- •Sand' Family says thank you We wish to express our deep ap preciation and heartfelt thanks to Clackamas County Law Enforce ment, Alpine Ambulance, friends, relatives and neighbors for their show of consideration, It, ing in our recent difficult The G riffe ths Milo. Toni and Mary I
