Two Days Until 26-48, Continued Again
Another look at the differing views of Measure 26-48:
he tax is facing scrutiny from business people, who bemoan more taxes during a time of economic struggle.
"Businesses in Multnomah County are already leaving at an alarming rate," said [Mike] Fitz, who owns StarOil Company. "All you have to do is wander around the older warehouse space, and look at the vacancy rate," he said. "It has to do with the fact that total taxes are too high. It's time to say no, it's enough."
...
If the measure doesn't pass, [principal of Beaumont Middle School Sherie] Knutsen said she's looking at a bare-bones school, with up to 46 students per teacher, who would overflow rooms built almost a century ago for elementary-age children.
"Band, photo, art, health, PE, foreign languages -- all of that would be gone," she said. "And I just don't think there's any way to teach more than 40 kids in one classroom at the middle school level and expect achievement. It's just glorified babysitting."
Meanwhile, the eyes of Salem are upon us:
Many Oregon legislators will be carefully watching Tuesday's referendum in Multonomah County -- which will decide the fate of a proposed countywide income tax -- for cues on how to proceed with trying to resolve the state's budget crisis.
"If it passes, it will intensify the pressure in this building to raise more revenue for schools," said Senate Democratic Leader Kate Brown, who's been working to nudge the 2003 Legislature in that direction.
...
But some Republicans, who are generally opposed to new taxes, are trying to play down the potential statewide significance of the Multnomah County vote.
"If there's any county in Oregon that would vote to raise taxes, it's Multnomah County," said Rep. Dan Doyle of Salem, referring to the county's politically liberal voting tradition.
It's probably safe to expect the arguments on all sides to increase in frequency and volume over the next two days.