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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2004)
Most Pay Little 40% Percent of Total Taxes/People 35% 30% 25% Taxes People 20% 15% The steeply graduated tax increase means that the 68 percent of state taxpayers who earn less than $50,000 will pay only 11 percent of the personal income tax increase. The elite seven percent of taxpayers earning more than $100,000 will pay 60 percent of the tax increase. 10% 5% 0% 200+ 100 to 200 70 to 100 50 to 70 40 to 50 30 to 40 20 to 30 10 to 20 <10 Income (x $1,000) Source: Legislative Revenue Office analysis of Measure 30 personal income tax. Public Safety & Courts - Cut $69 million Kid jails would lose $9 million, cutting counseling and treatment programs for delin- quents. Adult prisons would take a $7 million hit with reduced treatment for drugs, mental disorders, anger and sexual deviance. The state police would lay off half their crime lab workers and underfunded courts could clog. Locally, the county jail and parole and probation would lose $1.8 million. Pooh-Poohing State anti-government conservatives, backed by the Washington, D.C.-based anti-tax group Citizens for a Sound Economy, pooh-pooh the predictions of dras- tic cuts in state services. After Measure 5 and Measure 28, the cuts weren’t very severe, they say. But Measure 30 supporters say the eco- nomic boom in the 1990s boosted income tax revenue and disguised the impact of Measure 5 until the recent bust. Measure 28 cuts were real and 90 districts closed their schools early. “It’s not a case of crying wolf,” Bryant says. Opponents also argue that a recession isn’t the time to increase taxes and that Measure 30 will cost jobs. But an economic analysis by the Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP) shows that killing the meas- ure will suck $1.9 billion from the state econ- omy in state spending and lost federal match- ing dollars, costing thousands of jobs. A sim- ilar tax increase in the 1980s didn’t keep Oregon from bouncing back from a reces- sion, supporters also say. Measure 30 won’t make Oregon’s already low business tax burden much higher, ac- cording to OCPP. On the other hand, if it doesn’t pass, businesses will be reluctant to locate in a state with such underfunded schools. Supporters also point out that gutting the Oregon Health Plan will flood local emer- gency rooms with indigent patients that can’t be turned away, increasing hospital costs and, subsequently, private insurance premiums for most Oregonians. Measure 30 opponents say government needs to cut fat rather than raise taxes. But McKenzie Midwifery & Women’s Services, P.C. Pregnancy Care & Women’s Health Beyond Child Bearing Your personal providers for Pregnancy Care as well as Pregnancy Prevention. • Many contraception methods available. • Childbirth preparation classes Monday evenings and video viewings Friday mornings, both open to the public. Michele K. Bouche, C.N.M. • Kathie S. Hill, C.N.M. 1632 J Street, Springfield • 746-8897 Births attended at McKenzie Willamette Hospital Visit our website: mckenziemidwifery.com Call for a courtesy “Get Acquainted” Visit • Se habla Español UO Youth Enrichment Program at Amazon Community Center Announces Winter 2004 programs! CALL 682-5373 to enroll now! Classes start January 20 – Ongoing enrollment Photography • Art • Ceramics • Dance • Music • Computers NEW classes for 20 month-3 year olds! Renegade Theatre Spring Break Camp March 22-26 For more information on the UO Youth Enrichment and Talented and Gifted Programs, call 346-3084 Amazon Community Center • 2700 Hilyard St., Eugene JANUARY 15, 2004 13
