Politically-minded Oregonians have been abuzz in recent weeks over Measure 30. The embattled and wide-reaching ballot measure, which would affect income tax assessments if passed, increase some corporate taxes and reduce or cancel various tax deductions, would also avoid $544.6 million in budget cuts.
The dollar figures, and indeed the stakes, are high and reflect that this proposition is much more than a simple tax measure.
In fact, the political and economic implications here are dramatic enough that some members of the Editorial Board could find little common ground.
Those who favor the measure argued that cuts triggered by the measure’s failure would deal a serious blow to critical state services, particularly education. Those who opposed said that, like the defeated Measure 28, the proposition’s supporters are overstating the potential negative impacts.
The measure’s opponents also argued that the personal income tax was too progressive (those making between $10,000 and $20,000 would pay an additional 1 percent in income tax; those making $90,000 or more would pay 8 or 9 percent more); its proponents said taxing the highest-income taxpayers the most would be fiscally easier for the state’s residents on the whole (the average Oregonian will pay only $24-$36 per year, according to an argument in favor published in the voter’s pamphlet ).
In general, supporters of the measure argued the wide educational and health benefits of maintaining state services at their current level mandated the tax changes; its opponents said the negative effect on families and businesses could be too harsh in an already stagnating economy.
Despite political differences, the members of the Editorial Board agreed on at least a few issues. For one, education (and higher education in particular) are increasingly underfunded; long-term decreases will harm not only those in Oregon’s education system over the next decade, but will negatively impact the state’s competitiveness and economic health in the long-run.
Moreover, the members of the Editorial Board agreed it would be in most students’ short-term interest to vote yes on the measure. Most students make under $20,000 per year, and so would pay at most 1 percent more taxes: just dollars, not hundreds of dollars. Measure 30’s success would probably stave off tuition hikes (or at least keep those hikes small) and keep some classes from being cut, for the time being.
No matter how you feel about Measure 30, the issues at stake are too important not to vote.
The voting deadline for the special election is Feb. 3.