May 23, 2003
(Updated) The Taxman Cometh (But How?)
Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.
Both KGW and the Portland Tribune are trying to nail down just how the Measure 26-48 income tax will be collected.
KGW had a story yesterday:
Employers are not required to take the money out of employees' paychecks, according to county officials, but workers should inquire about it.
Company owner Mark Gaskill says he?ll take a chunk of money out of his workers' paychecks.
"Because as I understand it... it'll take a special county form, and most employees would rather it be taken out over time," said Gaskill.
And today's Tribune continues:
One bureaucratic impediment remains, though. The ballot measure didn't spell out all the details of how the tax will work, instead designating the county's finance director as administrator of the tax, with the responsibility for adopting the necessary administrative rules.
Collecting income taxes, though, isn't exactly part of the county's core mission, said Dave Boyer, the county finance director who woke up Wednesday morning after a sleepless night with the task of making it work. There's no model to work from.
Mulntomah County has posted a list of frequently asked questions about collection of taxes under Measure 26-48.
May 23, 2003
Update
Today's Oregonian also covers this angle:
Multnomah County officials have been besieged with questions about the new county income tax for schools and county services, including queries from employers who want to know when they can start withholding tax payments from employees' salaries.
"I am not an expert on taxes, but I am getting there quickly," said Dave Boyer, county finance director who has been fielding phone calls and working on details of the tax.