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The Oregon Tax Revolt is a political movement in Oregon which advocates for lower taxes. This movement is part of a larger anti-tax movement in the Western United States . The tax revolt, carried out in large part by a series of Citizens' Initiatives and Referendum s, has reshaped the debate about Taxes and public services in Oregon. The leaders of the tax revolt include Don McIntire , president of the Taxpayer Association Of Oregon , and Bill Sizemore , leader of Oregon Taxpayers United . Much of the money spent to promote these anti-tax measures were provided by out-of-state backers including Americans For Tax Reform headed by Grover Norquist . http://www.wweek.com/html/leada060700.html Inspired in part by Proposition 13 in the neighboring state of California , Oregon voters placed limits to Property Tax in the Oregon Constitution in 1990 with the passage of Measure 5 . Voters were frustrated by the increase in property taxes attributed to rapidly rising property values in the Portland area. Some attribute this home price inflation to an influx of population in the Portland metro, which is surrounded by an Urban Growth Boundary that limits the supply of developable land. Others observe that the situation was much more complex, pointing to the loose monetary policy pursued by Alan Greenspan , including adjustments to the CPI that measured Homeowners Equivalent Rent instead of actual home price, a recovering economy in the region, and numerous other factors. Measure 5 shifted the burden of School funding to the state (which levies an Income Tax ) and away from counties. Measure 5 also equalized school funding throughout the state, which meant that schools in rural areas benefited while schools in Portland saw budgets reduced. The budgetary restraints caused by Measure 5 were responsible for funding cuts that were made in public schools and universities budgets. However, even with the caps on property taxes, the continual increase in property values in Portland, exacerbated by the effects of Measure 5, brought higher tax bills for some residents. This led to Sizemore's to send Measure 50 to voters in 1997 , which clarified Measure 47. During a special election in May 1997, Measure 50 was approved by the voters 55.7% to 44.3%.http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/may2097/other.info/m50abst.htm The tax revolt manifested itself in a series of budget battles in the Oregon Legislature about school funding, the Oregon Health Plan , and other spending priorities during the late 1990s . Then Governor John Kitzhaber and the Republican leadership in the legislature clashed repeatedly over budget priorities. In which was passed by the voters 62% to 38%. http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/nov72000/other.info/m86.htm Anti-tax activists defeated two proposals in 2003 and 2004 ( Measure 28 and Measure 30 ), which were referred to voters by the Oregon State Legislature to temporarily increase income taxes. |
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