Measure 93, brought to the ballot by Bill Sizemore and his organization, Oregon Taxpayers United, would amend the state constitution to create a “super-majority” standard for all increases in state and local fees, charges and taxes.
The percentage at which the measure passes would dictate the vote required to increase state income. For example, if the measure passes by 60 percent, all future increases in fees, charges, and taxes have to pass by at least 60 percent.
The measure would also require all non-exempt levies, fee and tax increases passed since December 6th of 1998 and greater than 3 percent to be returned to voters for re-approval. The increases would have to be re-approved by the “super-majority” standard set by Measure 93.
The controversial point is that even if a local levy to fund schools passed by 55 percent the first time around, it could have to be re-approved by a new, greater percentage.
This re-approval situation is one area criticized by the Committee for Our Oregon, an organization in opposition to the measure.
Spokesperson Lynn McNamara said that these “unfair retroactive aspects” of the measure are the organization’s greatest concern.
Referring to local levies passed to fund things like schools and libraries, McNamara said, “The voters played by the rules, city officials played by the rules, and this thing reaches back two years and could change all that.”
On the other side, Becky Miller, an executive assistant for Oregon Taxpayers United, countered, “It doesn’t automatically threaten levies for things like schools. It requires them to go back and ask the voters, OK, do you want to refund this money, or do you want to go ahead with this voter-approved levy?”
As the measure is written, it is difficult to determine the impact these approval and re-approval requirements will have on the Oregon University System.
However, upon reviewing documents during a phone interview, Miller said that she believed “colleges and university tuition and fees are exempt.”
But Bob Bruce, spokesperson for the OUS, said that “several measures that could affect [OUS] are unclear legally, and the attorney general won’t offer any guidance until after the elections.”