Kulongoski Proposes Raising More Fees
A few days ago, we reported that Oregon’s Governor was planning to raise taxes by $176 per year per person. Now the Oregonian is reporting that Kulongoski is proposing even more fee increases.
- Two-year Vehicle Registration: 200% increase
- Vehicle Title: 100% increase
- Fishing License 25% increase
- Hunting License 24% increase
- State Park Campground: 20% increase
- Death Certificate: 185% increase
- Custom License Plate: 100%
- Registered Nurse Certificates: 26%
- Psychologists two-year license: 37% increase
Those are just an example. There are many more increases not listed above. In addition to the above fee increases and the many others not specified above, Kulongoski is also
- Raising the state gas-tax by 2 cents per gallon (a 8.5% increase)
In total, the governor’s budget calls for collecting $1.6 billion in fees, an increase of 36 percent over the 2009-11 budget period.
Let’s make sure we have our tax and fee increase numbers straight. The current state budget in Oregon was 20% larger than the previous budget. Plus 7½% more money from the natural increase in taxes. If you add that together, that’s 27% over four years. That averages about to about a 7% tax increase per year. That’s about twice the rate of inflation!
Now, the Governor is asking for $2 billion in additional taxes and fee hikes. And what is to be done with this money? Kulongoski is adding some 1,500 new positions to Oregon Government. In addition, services like veterans affairs are being decreased by some 16% and the state’s bureaucratic agencies are being increased (Department of Human Services +18%, Administrative Services +23%).
Why is Kulongoski doing this? According to the Register Guard
Government labor unions unquestionably have a lot of muscle in the current political environment. Labor unions are big donors to the campaigns of Kulongoski and top Democratic legislators in the Oregon House and Senate, where the state budget will be worked on.
Kulongoski is increasing his largest voting block (public employees), and decreasing services like senior services, veteran affairs, mental health, and public safety and standards.
Finally, Senate Republican leader Ted Ferrioli asks the question,
The private sector is hurting and laying off people. How come the public sector employment is still growing? Ordinary citizens are furious about that.
Kulongoski’s tax increases don’t make sense. In fact, they are bad for folks like you and me. Tell the Governor that you oppose expanding the size of Oregon’s bureaucracy.
