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