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OVERCAST Temp: 38 °F Wind: NNE at 4 mph Monday, February 3, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 5, 2003 Measure 28 Q&A What is Measure 28? The measure on the Jan. 28 ballot would increase many Oregonians’ income taxes for three years to raise a total of $725 million for the state, offsetting current and expected budget cuts. It would raise $313 million for the biennium that ends June 30 and $412million for the biennium that starts July 1. What would it cost me? In the 2002, 2003 and 2004 tax years, Oregonians would pay tax increasesaveraging $114 a year. The measure would leave taxes unchanged for about 390,000 low-income residents while raising the tax rate for others from 9 percent of taxable income to 9.5 percent. Thecorporate income tax rate would increase from 6.6 percent to 6.93 percent during the same period. Would it solve Oregon’s budget problems? No. Oregon, which has trimmed its two-year general fund budget from $12.3 billion to $11.4 billion already this year, faces more revenue shortfalls in the period that starts July 1. State economists predict the shortfall for the 2003-2005 biennium will be between $1 billionand $2 billion. What if it doesn’t pass? The state will make $310 million in immediate,across-the-board budget cuts, a plan outlined in a bill approved in the Legislature’s final special session last year. Planned cuts include $95 million to K-12 education, $41 million to higher education, $90 million to human services programs, $45 million to public safety programs, $6 million to natural resources programs and $33 million to all other programs. The Legislature could decide to change those numbers when it convenes Jan. 13. How will this affect tax returns? The Oregon Department of Revenue will hold returns received in January until after the special election and will process them when results of the election are known. Tax booklets distributed by the department include both the 9 percentand 9.5 percent rates. More information is available at the department’s Web site at www.dor.state.or.us or by calling 1-800-356-4222. When will I receive a ballot? Ballots will be mailed starting Friday. Where can I get more information? Voters’ Pamphlets were mailed last week. An online Voters’ Pamphlet that includes the measure’s text and arguments for and against it is at the Oregon Secretary of State Office’s Web site at www.sos.state.or.us The Web site by Measure 28 supporters is at " target="_blank">www.yeson28.com. Sources: Legislative Revenue Office, Voters’ Pamphlet, Yes on 28 campaign Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S