Join host Jo Ann Hardesty on Thursday April 18th 2013 from 8-9AM as she speaks with Common Ground‘s two Jeff’s regarding Oregon taxes and innovative legislation that will bring fairness to our tax structure.
Jeff Strang is the President of the local chapter of Common Ground and Jeff Smith is the Outreach Coordinator (and Website Manager).
After more than 18 years’ experience with Oregon’s constitutionally-imposed property tax limitations, it is evident that the tax system has become increasingly unfair and economically unproductive. The cumulative effects of limiting the growth of property assessments under Measure 50 are both (i) continuous revenue shortfalls, and (ii) a gradual shift in burden onto lower value residential sites. Economic analysts have clearly spoken out against both the use of limited assessments as a tax restraint, and the perverse manner in which taxing building values discourages capital investment and the efficient use of land.
At the request of Common Ground OR/WA, Legislative Counsel has prepared four legislator measures for the 2013 session: HJR 22 Resolution offering an option for cities and counties to adopt a land value tax in lieu of the uniform ad valorem property tax, thus exempting local jurisdictions from M-5 and M-50 limitations. HJR 23 Statute* specifying the provisions of a local-option land value tax using true market assessments and shifting the bulk of the tax base off of building values onto land values. [Note: HJR needs to be changed to a HB] HB 2509 Study bill+ examining the tax shift and equity effects of (i) a change from M-50 limited assessments to true market assessments, and (ii) a change from equal tax rates on land and improvements to differential rates. SJR 16 Resolution establishing a state-wide land-value lease fee imposed on all taxable land parcels to fund an Oregon resident’s dividend. Common Ground OR-WA (www.commongroundorwa.org)is a chapter of Common Ground USA (commonground-usa.net), a 501(c)4 non-profit organization.
Members of Common Ground OR-WA are members of Common Ground USA who reside in Oregon and Washington. We work on state and local issues.
- KBOO