Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 2019)
A7 THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019 Oregon taxpayers to see record ‘kicker’ of nearly $1.6 billion By DIRK VANDERHART Oregon Public Broadcasting It’s offi cial: Oregonians will see the largest-ever “kicker” tax refund next year. With all tax receipts for the just-ended biennium counted, state economists say more than $1.57 billion will fl ow back to personal income taxpayers in 2020, when they fi le their 2019 taxes. That compares to a “kicker” refund of a little more than $1.4 billion pro- jected in May, when offi - cials last forecast overall revenues. The fi nal tally, delivered to lawmakers in a hearing Wednesday morning, con- tinued a consistent trend over the last two years, as state tax revenues consis- tently outpaced economists’ expectations. When all was said and done, money fl owing into the state’s general and lot- tery funds came in $2.6 billion above what offi - cials expected in 2017, at the outset of the bien- nium. That’s created a situ- ation where Oregon reserve funds are at an all-time high — more than $3.7 billion — even as economists warn of an economic slowdown on the horizon. But Oregon’s unique refund policy also means the state can’t use all of the unexpected money. Under state law, a “kicker” is trig- gered whenever actual per- sonal income tax receipts come in at least 2% higher than initial projections. In such cases, any money col- lected above initial fore- casts fl ows back to tax- payers in the form of tax credits. In 2017-19, tax receipts came in more than 9% above projections, meaning the largest refund, by dol- lar amount, ever issued. As a percentage of tax liabil- ity, next year’s kicker will be the third-largest in Ore- gon history. In actual numbers, the top 1% of taxpayers can expect refunds of $15,214, while the median refund will be $346. The average payout to all taxpayers is expected to be $739. The unprecedented rev- enues have roots in a num- ber of factors, includ- ing federal tax changes that led businesses to put off paying taxes until this year, ratcheting up corpo- rate tax receipts by around 50%. Economists say those impacts are likely short term. Brown will call special session on death penalty “Even without a reces- sion, we’re expecting that it’s going to be hard to match the revenue we saw in the last biennium,” state economist Mark McMullen told lawmakers on the state House and Senate revenue committees. Another factor that could dampen the size of future kickers: A new corporate activities tax that lawmak- ers passed this year. That tax is expected to raise roughly $1 billion a year to pay for schools, but it also could raise prices for con- sumers, lawmakers reduced personal income tax rates. McMullen explained this shift will reduce income tax money fl owing into the general fund, even though overall revenues won’t be impacted. And that means fewer possible dollars fl ow- ing back in the form of kicker payments. “Thank you for that facet of the law,” McMullen told legislators. State economists have missed the mark on state revenue projections in each of the last three bienniums, triggering a kicker. In the 2011-13 budget cycle, they hit the “sweet spot,” where revenues came in above projections but not by enough to trigger a refund. Lawmakers want to fi x new law By DIRK VANDERHART Oregon Public Broadcasting Gov. Kate Brown plans to convene lawmakers next month in a bid to end out- cry over recent far-reaching changes to Oregon’s death penalty laws. Facing blowback from district attorneys and crime victim groups — and with the approval of even the new law’s chief propo- nents — Brown signaled Wednesday that she’ll call a narrowly focused special session in September. Leg- islators are already sched- uled to be in Salem from Sept. 16 to Sept. 18 to con- duct routine business. “I am willing to support a legislative session,” Brown said. “Given the seriousness of the issues that we’re deal- ing with and the impact on victims and families, I think it’s critically important that there be clarity about the law.” Brown made clear her Lake: Was last drained in 1997 Continued from Page A1 neer to increase the spillway capacity. Engineers have recommended an auxiliary spillway that, at an esti- mated cost between $5,400 and nearly $7,800 per tax- able lot at the lake, has left some residents fuming. The reserve is also look- ing at improvements to a fi sh ladder to meet state stan- dards, along with dredging parts of the lake fi lling with sediment from upstream. “There is silting from the logging above us, a lot of turbidity in the water,” Dun- calf said. Duncalf said the commu- nity is trying to balance its needs and the priorities of several different agencies involved in oversight of the lake. “My personal opin- ion is that everyone, includ- ing (Environmental Qual- ity) and (Fish and Wildlife), are in a learning process, ” he said. 15 EQUIPMENT , INC. SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS P LEASE , NO EARLY DROP - OFFS l Items must have the 10 cent, OR redemption label in order to benefit the band programs The Band Boosters are the primary source of funds to keep Astoria’s school band programs functioning. Please help by dropping off your empties or making a donation. 34912 HWY 101 BUS • ASTORIA 503-325-0792 • 1-800-220-0792 Call (503) 791-8134 or email i_want_to_help@astoriabands.org for more information. SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA TODAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY REGIONAL FORECAST Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. Seattle 70 57 A couple of showers 71 56 69 59 Some sun returning Partly sunny and nice 71 57 71 56 72 57 Partly sunny Sun and clouds and nice Sunny 72 57 Clouds and sun Aberdeen Olympia 71/61 75/63 Wenatchee Tacoma Moses Lake ALMANAC UNDER THE SKY TODAY'S TIDES Astoria through Tuesday Tonight’s Sky: New moon at 3:38 a.m. PDT. Astoria / Port Docks Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019 Time High (ft.) Time Low (ft.) 12:20 a.m. 8.5 7:27 a.m. -1.5 1:41 p.m. 7.2 7:26 p.m. 1.3 Cape Disappointment 1:15 p.m. none Source: Jim Todd, OMSI Hammond SUN AND MOON Sunrise today .................. 6:32 a.m. Sunset tonight ............... 8:01 p.m. Moonrise today .............. 5:15 a.m. Moonset today .............. 8:04 p.m. New First Full 6.9 6:30 a.m. -1.9 6:32 p.m. 1.3 Last 12:08 a.m. 8.8 6:52 a.m. -1.8 1:28 p.m. 7.4 6:55 p.m. 1.3 Warrenton 12:15 a.m. 8.9 7:11 a.m. -1.4 1:36 p.m. 7.6 7:10 p.m. 1.4 Knappa 12:57 a.m. 8.7 8:28 a.m. -1.3 2:18 p.m. 7.5 8:27 p.m. 1.1 Depoe Bay Aug 30 Sep 5 Sep 13 Sep 21 12:29 p.m. 7.5 6:00 a.m. -1.8 none 6:00 p.m. 1.7 City Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Denver Honolulu Houston Los Angeles Miami New York City Phoenix San Francisco Wash., DC Fri. Hi/Lo/W 89/65/s 83/64/pc 83/59/s 93/76/t 94/57/s 91/77/pc 93/76/t 87/67/s 89/78/t 82/65/s 108/87/s 75/59/pc 84/64/s 90/67/s 85/63/s 76/60/pc 91/75/pc 86/57/t 91/78/s 92/76/pc 87/65/s 87/78/t 83/67/s 111/87/pc 74/59/pc 88/70/s Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice. 81/57 Kennewick Walla Walla 89/68 Lewiston 92/64 86/64 Hermiston The Dalles 93/66 Enterprise Pendleton 84/55 90/64 89/65 La Grande 88/58 83/59 NATIONAL CITIES Today Hi/Lo/W Pullman 87/59 79/59 Salem 80/62 Yakima 89/63 Longview 70/57 Portland 84/63 Spokane 86/66 76/58 77/57 Astoria Temperatures High/low ................................ 91/53 Normal high/low .................. 69/52 Record high .................. 91 in 2019 Record low .................... 43 in 1955 Precipitation Tuesday ................................... 0.00” Month to date ........................ 0.90” Normal month to date ......... 0.94” Year to date .......................... 25.61” Normal year to date ........... 37.88” Follow us on CLATSOP POWER 1 P.M.- 3 P.M. • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 ST AT ASTORIA HIGH SCHOOL k th e L a b e Reg. priced shoes, boots, socks, & insoles. Excludes previous sales and special orders. Now thru 9/2/19. ASTORIA: 239 14th Street • (503) 325-3972 • www.gimresshoesastoria.com CAN & BOTTLE DRIVE Ch ec % OFF Special Labor Day Hours 10 am -4 pm Astoria Band Boosters ! Fish and Wildlife have also confi rmed an investigation, but remained largely mum as they gather evidence. Michael Sinnott, an assis- tant district fi sh biologist in northwest Oregon, described the impact of the draining in an email notifying other state and federal agencies about an investigation. “The fi sh kill included juvenile coho salmon, juvenile and (adult) win- ter steelhead, coastal cut- throat trout, lamprey (spe- cies), as well as numerous sculpin, crayfi sh and fresh- water clams and mussels,” he wrote. “Our initial esti- mate, based on our surveys and a drone fl ight by (state police) is that fi sh mortal- ity will number in the thou- sands of fi sh.” The investigation over the coming weeks will determine potential vio- lations, as well as how to repair the drain pipe and refi ll the lake, Sinnott wrote. “At this time our high- est priority is addressing the repair and re watering before fall rains come, which if not completed could have continued negative effects on fi sh and habitat both in Fishhawk Creek and in the Nehalem River,” he wrote. Patrick McGillivary, president of the Fishhawk Lake reserve , could not be reached for comment. Tra- vis Duncalf, a new board member-elect with the homeowners association, said the repair of the drain pipe was mandated by the state, and that notices were sent in May to all involved agencies. “Putting this off has caused us to get put in peril with state inspection agen- cies,” he said. It will take a couple of days to reline the drain before determining how to refi ll the lake while sup- plying Fishhawk Creek, he said. The lake was last drained in 1997 so the state could kill invasive species, he said, and took a month to refi ll. The drain pipe repair is one of several projects being addressed by the reserve, which maintains the lake, processes its own water and treats its own sewage. After fl oodwaters in 2007 nearly overtopped the dam, the reserve was tasked by the state with hiring an engi- no impact on old cases. But that may not be accurate — a Washington County judge recently deemed a former death row inmate ineligible for the death penalty. The defendant in that case, Martin Johnson, had previously been convicted of raping and murdering a 15-year-old girl in 1998, but was granted a new trial by the Oregon Supreme Court. Under the new law, the crime Johnson is accused of committing would not qual- ify as aggravated murder. The ruling led lawyers with the Oregon Depart- ment of Justice to re exam- ine their understanding of SB 1013, and acknowledge in an Aug. 9 email that the department had misled state prosecutors about the bill’s likely impacts. The Orego- nian has reported that this new understanding could have far-reaching impli- cations for Oregon’s death row inmates. In response, the state’s district attorneys, who opposed the bill, called on lawmakers to make changes. support is contingent on lawmakers bringing forth a proposal and getting “the votes to make it happen.” “Should that be accom- plished, I will call a special session before the end of September,” she said. The session would be aimed at correcting ele- ments of Senate Bill 1013, which sought to reduce use of the death penalty in Ore- gon. By amending the defi - nition of aggravated mur- der, the state’s only capital crime, the bill narrowed the situations in which prose- cutors can seek the death penalty. Crimes eligible for a death sentence under the bill include: premeditated murder of a child younger than 14; premeditated mur- der of a law enforcement offi cer; terrorist attacks that kill at least two people; and murders in prison by some- one previously convicted of murder. In urging passage of SB 1013 earlier this year, law- makers insisted repeatedly that it would not be retroac- tive, implying it would have Corvallis 81/57 Albany 84/57 John Day Eugene Bend 84/58 84/54 90/60 Ontario 98/65 Caldwell Burns 91/51 96/63 Medford 93/60 Klamath Falls 85/52 City Baker City Brookings Ilwaco Newberg Newport Today Hi/Lo/W 89/55/pc 66/52/pc 69/60/sh 84/57/pc 68/55/pc Fri. Hi/Lo/W 89/50/pc 67/55/pc 69/59/c 81/54/pc 68/55/c City North Bend Roseburg Seaside Springfi eld Vancouver Today Hi/Lo/W 72/56/pc 88/61/s 71/60/sh 86/57/s 83/60/sh Fri. Hi/Lo/W 72/57/c 85/58/pc 72/57/c 83/54/pc 80/58/pc