Measure No. 77

Legislative Argument in Support

A YES vote on Measure 77 will eliminate an unfair tax treatment mistakenly imposed by Measure 50 in 1997 to three taxing districts: Deschutes County, Linn County and the City of Sweet Home.

Property Tax Relief

Measure 77 will correct a mistake in Measure 50. The mistake caused property taxes to increase instead of decrease in these three districts after the implementation of Measure 50. In other areas of the state, property taxes on residential property fell by an average of 8% between 1996-97 and 1997-98. However, taxpayers in Deschutes and Linn Counties saw an average increase in their residential property taxes of 2.5% and 1.4% respectively.

Local Voter Support

In the past, Linn and Deschutes county voters have renewed temporary levies indicating their support for stable funding for essential services.

Equal Treatment of Expiring Levies

Districts, which had voter approval for continuing levies without an increase in tax authority, had the expiring levies incorporated into their permanent tax rate limit. Linn and Deschutes Counties and the City of Sweet Home each had increased levy amounts approved by voters in 1997. This resulted in their temporary levies not being included in their permanent rate calculation. Passage of Measure 77 will correct this unequal treatment of levies.

Long Range Planning

Passage of Measure 77 will result in a transfer from temporary to permanent tax authority and reduce overall taxes. Currently, these three districts' temporary levies must be approved in a November general election or with a double majority. Passage of Measure 77 will allow districts to project tax revenues with more certainty and prepare long-term plans for community services.

The 1999 Legislature unanimously supported this legislation and referral so all Oregonians could experience property tax relief from Measure 50. Measure 77 will correct this mistake and help return equity and faith in government to all Oregonians.

We need your YES vote to approve Measure 77.

Committee Members:	Appointed By:
Senator Mae Yih	President of the Senate
Representative Ken Strobeck	Speaker of the House
Representative Ben Westlund	Speaker of the House

(This Joint Legislative Committee was appointed to provide the legislative argument in support of the ballot measure pursuant to ORS 251.245.)

NO ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BALLOT
MEASURE WERE FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE. Arguments in Favor

Explanatory Statement

Statewide Measures

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