Kulongoski to increase taxes by $176 per year
Just after the fall elections were decided, our Governor, Ted Kulongoski (D), declared that he supports:
1. Raising the state gas-tax by 2 cents per gallon (a 8.5% increase)
2. Doubling the vehicle titling fee to $110 (a 100% increase)
3. Raising the vehicle registration free from $27 a year to $81 (a 300% increase)
4. Creating a $100-a-year fee for titling cars new to the state
5. These tax increases will cost Oregonians around $500 million more a year
Let’s work some numbers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 3,700,758 citizens (C) of the State of Oregon. Of these, 23.1% are under (U) the age of 18. For our purposes, we will assume that no one under 18 is a motorist (M) (this, of course, is not true. However, not everyone over 18 is a motorist, and many older individuals do not drive, thus the difference is easily made up). C x U = 854,857. C - U = M 2,845,901. Thus, $500,000,000 the projected yearly increase (I) in taxes is divided between the number of motorists (M). I รท M = $175.69.
Kulongoski is proposing that taxes should be increased, on average, $176 per person per year. Now, let’s hypothesize that on average the current resident of Oregon will remain here 10 more years (Y). I x Y = $1,760.
Congratulations. You just wrote the Governor of the State of Oregon a check for just a little under $2,000.
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, In 2006 Oregon had a per capita personal income of $33,299. That means over the next ten years, you will spend an extra 2.75 weeks (around 14 days) working to pay this new tax (inflation not accounted for).
We, at Lights On Oregon strongly oppose this tax increase. In fact, we are actively opposing it. However, we need your help. Email the Governor and the Legislature now. This fight isn’t over yet.
