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The INDEPENDENT, May 7,1997
n.
INDEPENDENT
Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice
monthly, on the first and third Wednesdays of each
month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 725 Bridge
Street, Vernonia, OR 97064, as a free newspaper.
Editors and Publishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen, (503)
429-9410.
Measure 47 is still
causing problems
/^ F h e optimist proclaims that we live in the best o P \
all possible worlds; the pessimist fears this is true.
James B. Cabell
v ___________
The Silver Stallion, 1926
Before considering Ballot Measure 50, let’s revisit
the worst part of Ballot Measure 47, hereinafter called
BM47.
If you want to vote yes on a measure to fix the road
in front of your house, do you want your vote cancelled
by someone who didn’t even remember there was an
election?
If you voted for BM47, you answered in the affirma
tive.
The worst part of BM47 isn’t the harm it does to
schools and local governments. The worst part of
BM47 is that a registered voter doesn’t even have to
send in a ballot to be counted as a “no” vote on any
tax question.
Ballot Measure 50 doesn’t change that provision.
Though voters who opposed BM47 may be reluc
tant to approve Measure 50 because such a vote
could indicate approval of BM47, there are reasons to
vote for Measure 50.
Measure 50 reduces taxes in an amount that should
be pleasing to taxpayers, though not quite as much at
BM47. The difference, though, will allow local govern
ments and schools to budget more sensibly.
If Measure 50 is defeated, the inconsistencies re
sulting from the poorly written BM47, will leave those
agencies nearly hog-tied by the court cases that sure
ly will require judicial definition. So, if you dont want
your law written by judges, vote yes for Measure 50.
Another problem with BM47 is that it leaves no room
for cities and schools to plan for growth. The three-
percent cap on property taxes remains with Measure
50, too, creating a problem for schools or cities grow
ing at a rate of six or seven-percent per year.
The difference, again, lies in interpretation. If Attor
ney General Hardy Myers’ interpretation of BM47 is
correct, it will end up providing very little property tax
relief. Measure 50 simply is crafted better and should
n’t create so many ambiguities.
It’s better to have a clearly written ballot measure,
even if you don’t care for all of its elements, than to
buy into a carelessly crafted mish-mash that will be
tied up in court forever.
A “Yes” vote on Measure 50 will make local budget
ing more sensible because it’s understandable.
^ M e re parsimony is not economy. Expense, a n d ^
great expense, may be an essential part of true
economy.
Edmund Burke
Letter to a Noble Lord, 1976
[T h ejo si Report
By Rep. TimJosi
Oregon Representative, District 2
laws - coupled with the requirement of taxes
being collected at major distribution centers -
eliminates much of the potential for evasion.
• Washington and California would have a
lower diesel tax due to a broader taxing sys
tem. Newer, more fuel efficient, interstate
trucks have the capacity to drive completely
through Oregon without buying fuel here. A
federal weight-mile tax system would help to
When people visit the capitol, I often tell
them the hardest part of my job is deciding
which way to vote on certain issues. A vote
may help some people while hurting others. I
was faced with just such a dilemma last week.
For the past two years, the Oregon trucking
industry has been developing a proposal to
compensate for the dam age these trucks
move away from their current taxing method
cause to our highways but some Oregon busi
ology which is used for highway maintenance
nesses, such as truck stops, would be hurt.
and expansion. Oregon, as with four other
• According to inform ation supplied by
states, currently utilizes a weight- mile formula
ODOT there would be a cost shift within the
for trucks traveling Oregon’s highways instead
trucking industry. The heavier trucks would
of a diesel tax. Trucks pay a fee for the num
pay less (28-35 percent) and the cost shift
ber of miles driven in Oregon which increases
would be picked up by the lighter trucks more
with the weight of their freight. The bookkeep
closely associated with rural Oregon.
ing associated with weight-mile taxes is ex
• There could be a substantial shift, in cost
pensive for both the trucking industry and the
responsibility, away from the trucking industry.
state. However, it is recognized nationwide as
Nationally recognized data indicates the dam
the fairest method for allocating costs associ
age to our highways is split at 60 percent for
ated with road damage. Heavier trucks cause
cars and 40 percent for trucks. Oregon’s cur
more damage to highways than lighter trucks
rent weight-mile system contributes 38 per
and the weight-mile tax reflects that. Evasion
cent of the funds generated to fix roads and
of the w eight-m ile tax has always been a
comes the closest in the nation at achieving
problem but the level has been disputed. The
cost responsibility. For this reason, the Ore
Oregon trucking industry believes evasion
gon trucking industry believes they are at a
may be as high as 25 percent however, the
competitive disadvantage with truck compa
Oregon Department of Transportation believes
nies in other states.
the level is closer to seven percent.
The latest proposal, presented by the truck
The trucking industry would like to move
ing industry, came close to representing true
Oregon into alignment with most other states
cost responsibility. However, I believe the fig
by switching to a diesel tax. However, cost re
ures need further scrutiny. I, along with one
sponsibility would be marginalized because all
other democrat and two republicans, voted no
trucks would pay the same tax regardless of
to their proposal in the seven-member House
their weight. To compensate for this inequity,
Transportation Committee. The trucking indus
the trucking industry proposed a variable vehi
try still has three more chances, in other com
cle registration and access fee based upon
mittees, to make their case and further refine
truck weights and vehicle usages. An example
their proposal.
would be cement trucks, which would pay less
because they bum about half of their fuel at
the job site, pumping cement.
Rep. Tim Josi may be reached at
There are a number of problems associated
H-491 State Capitol
Salem, OR 97310
with a move to diesel fuel taxation:
Phone: (503)986-1402
• A national study indicates that evasion
PAX: (503)986-1575
may be as high as 30 percent. However, the
E’Mait: Repjosi@oregoncoast.com
trucking industry testified that new federal