RESULT OF "YES" VOTE: "Yes" vote requires light, heavy vehicles proportionately share highway costs through vehicle fees, fuel tax.RESULT OF "NO" VOTE: "No" vote rejects requiring light, heavy vehicles proportionately share highway costs through fees, fuel tax.
SUMMARY: Amends constitution. Constitution now does not specify that motor vehicle fuel tax and vehicle fees for ownership, operation, use, be proportionate to costs of constructing, maintaining system of public highways, roads, rest areas, that are incurred because of different vehicle classes. Measure requires that share of revenues paid for use of light vehicles (cars) and heavy vehicles (trucks) be proportionate to costs incurred for highway system because of each vehicle class. Requires biennial legislative review, adjustment of revenue sources as necessary to ensure fairness, proportionality.
ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues.
PARAGRAPH 1. Section 3a, Article IX
of the Constitution of the State of Oregon, is amended to read:
Sec. 3a. (1) Except as provided in subsection
(2) of this section, revenue from the following shall be used exclusively
for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, maintenance,
operation and use of public highways, roads, streets and roadside rest
areas in this state:
(a) Any tax levied on, with respect to, or measured
by the storage, withdrawal, use, sale, distribution, importation or receipt
of motor vehicle fuel or any other product used for the propulsion of motor
vehicles; and
(b) Any tax or excise levied on the ownership, operation
or use of motor vehicles.
(2) Revenues described in subsection (1) of this
section:
(a) May also be used for the cost of administration
and any refunds or credits authorized by law.
(b) May also be used for the retirement of bonds
for which such revenues have been pledged.
(c) If from levies under paragraph (b) of subsection
(1) of this section on campers, mobile homes, motor homes, travel trailers,
snowmobiles, or like vehicles, may also be used for the acquisition, development,
maintenance or care of parks or recreation areas.
(d) If from levies under paragraph (b) of subsection
(1) of this section on vehicles used or held out for use for commercial
purposes, may also be used for enforcement of commercial vehicle weight,
size, load, conformation and equipment regulation.
(3) Revenues described in subsection (1) of this
section that are generated by taxes or excises imposed by the state shall
be generated in a manner that ensures that the share of revenues paid for
the use of light vehicles, including cars, and the share of revenues paid
for the use of heavy vehicles, including trucks, is fair and proportionate
to the costs incurred for the highway system because of each class of vehicle.
The Legislative Assembly shall provide for a biennial review and, if necessary,
adjustment, of revenue sources to ensure fairness and proportionality.
PARAGRAPH 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at a special election held throughout this state on the date specified in section 2, chapter _____, Oregon Laws 1999 (Enrolled House Bill 2354). If a special election is not held throughout this state on the date specified in section 2, chapter _____, Oregon Laws 1999 (Enrolled House Bill 2354), the amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at a special election held throughout this state on the same date as the next biennial primary election.
NOTE: Boldfaced type indicates new language; [brackets and italic] type indicates deletions or comments.
The measure requires the Legislative Assembly, every two years, to review and, if necessary, to adjust the taxes and excises to ensure that the taxes and excises on motor vehicle fuel and motor vehicles are fair and proportionate as between costs for highways incurred from use by light vehicles and by heavy vehicles.
Section 3a, Article IX, currently requires that revenue from any tax or excise levied on motor vehicle fuel and the ownership or operation or use of a motor vehicle be used primarily for:
1. Construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair,
maintenance, operation and use of public highways, roads,
streets and roadside rest
areas;
2. Cost of administration and refunds or credits authorized by law; and
3. Retirement of bonds for which the revenues have been
pledged.
| Committee Members:
Senator Lee Beyer Representative Bruce Starr Representative Roger Beyer Senator Tony Corcoran Kathleen Beaufait |
Appointed By:
President of the Senate Speaker of the House Secretary of State Secretary of State Members of the Committee |
(This committee was appointed to provide an impartial explanation
of the ballot measure pursuant to
ORS 251.215.)
Arguments In Opposition
No arguments in opposition to this ballot measure were filed with the Secretary of StateNovember 2, 1999 Special Election Voters' Pamphlet Table of Contents