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Click Here 55 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, February 14, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 4, 2003 Groups oppose tax repeal Coalition to stump for tax surcharge By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune A coalition of school groups, the Rogue Valley League of Women Voters and parents has mounted an all-out effort to support an $800 million income tax surcharge. The three-year surcharge was officially put on the ballot Wednesday by the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, which verified 118,000 signatures of the 147,000 gathered to put the issue to a vote. Only 50,000 signatures were needed. Ballot Measure 30 will be mailed to voters Jan. 16 for the Feb. 3 election. In Jackson County, 6,600 uncertified names were gathered, making the area the seventh highest in the state for signatures. Multnomah County had the most with 29,000 signatures. Advertisement Tax foes vowed to put the measure on the ballot after the Legislature approved the surcharge on income taxes to help balance the budget and prevent cuts to schools, social services and public safety. Amy Amrhein, a local organizer for Our Oregon Coalition, said schools will suffer if the surcharge doesn’t pass, losing $400 million as their share of taxes. Many districts have already set the stage to cut teachers or school days to counter an anticipated fiscal shipwreck. "People don’t understand what this is about," said Amrhein, an Ashland School Board member. After the defeat of Measure 28 in January, she said schools shut down for 10 or more days to save money. This occurred despite the claims of anti-tax advocates that the measure would hold schools harmless. Russ Walker, director for Citizens for a Sound Economy, said Oregonians shouldn’t be forced to pay for poor decisions made by politicians. Schools are being held hostage by legislators and special interest groups advocating for more taxes, he said. "I think voters are overwhelmingly opposed to this measure," he said. Walker predicted an easy win in the election, citing a recent Portland television station poll showing only 24 percent of Oregonians supporting the tax. He said proposals to balance the state’s budget without hurting education have been ignored by legislators. Amrhein said volunteers will mount a vigorous effort to explain to voters what’s at stake. A training session will be held for volunteers Saturday to let them know the realities of the state funding crisis and also to promote long-term solutions. A speakers’ training session will be held Dec. 11. Volunteers will man phone banks in December and attend parent gatherings at schools and other venues. In January, door-to-door canvassing of neighborhoods will be held in Medford and Ashland. Another phone bank will be held Jan. 27 to Feb. 2. Laurie Kappel, who is part of the Jackson County effort to bolster support for the tax, said she will be appearing before PTOs and other groups to educate voters and to dispel misconceptions. "For the average Jackson County family with two kids, this tax will be about $1.08 a month," she said. For a childless married couple filing jointly, the tax would be $24 to $36 more per year. Contrary to what tax foes claimed when gathering signatures recently, the tax will not amount to a 9 percent increase, she said. She said the ballot measure would increase corporate taxes. For instance, her company, Discovery Corner, now pays a minimum $10 in corporate taxes, but would pay $250 if the ballot measure succeeds. Kappel, a local chapter chairwoman for the national grassroots organization Stand for Children, plans to explain to local voters what could happen if the measure is defeated. "At least we will have an educated vote," she said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] The Associated Press contributed to this report. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times