Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.

Oregon Voter Approval of Local Taxes and Fees Initiative (2018)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Oregon
Voter Approval of Local Taxes and Fees Initiative
Flag of Oregon.png
Election date
November 6, 2018
Topic
Direct democracy measures and Taxes
Status
Not on the ballot
Type
State statute
Origin
Citizens


The Oregon Voter Approval of Local Taxes and Fees Initiative was not on the ballot in Oregon as an initiated state statute on November 6, 2018.

The measure would have required voter approval of any local law imposing a new tax or fee or increasing an existing tax or fee that would raise more than $1 million during the first three years following the law's enactment.[1][2]

Two versions of the initiative were proposed.

Text of measure

Full text

Initiative 10

The full text of Initiative 10 was as follows:[1]

Section 1. (1) Any local law imposing a new tax or fee, or increasing an existing tax or fee, shall be submitted to the voters of the local government and approved by at least a majority of the votes cast thereon, before taking effect. However, the requirements of this section shall not apply to:

(a) Any local law imposing a new tax or fee, or increasing an existing tax or fee, that is reasonably projected by the local government to raise no more than $1,000,000 during the three-year period immediately following enactment.

Section 2. (1) For purposes of this 2018 Act:

(a) The term "local law" means any law enacted or proposed by a local government body, or the voters thereof, and excludes any state law.

(b) "Local government" means any entity or body defined as a "local government" in ORS 174.116 or a "special government body" as defined in ORS 174.117.

Section 3. This 2018 Act does not apply to any local law adopted by a local government prior to the effective date of this 2018 Act.

Section 4. The provisions of this 2018 Act are intended to be severable and if any part of this 2018 Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts shall remain in full force and effect.

Initiative 11

The full text of Initiative 11 was as follows:[2]

Section 1. The people of Oregon find and declare that city and county taxes and fees extract large amounts of money from the Oregon economy and guaranteeing that city and county voters have the right to vote on city and county taxes and fees as provided in this 2018 Act is a matter of statewide concern.

Section 2. A city or county law that imposes a new tax or fee, or increases an existing tax or fee, takes effect only if approved by a majority of the voters of the city or county voting in an election on the law unless, before the city or county adopts the law, the city or county estimates in good faith that the law will raise no more than $1,000,000.00 in any of the first three fiscal years the law is in effect.

Section 3. As used in this 2018 Act: (a) "Tax" means a charge or surcharge imposed by a city or county for the purpose of generating revenues for governmental purposes, and (b) "Fee" means a charge or surcharge imposed by a city or county to defray or recover the costs of providing a service, privilege, or benefit and that is paid by a person who receives the service, privilege or benefit.

Section 4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this 2018 Act, Section2 does not apply to: (a) system development charges as defined in ORS 223.229, and (b) fees on water, storm water, and wastewater utility services.

Section 5. This 2018 measure applies to city or county laws that impose new taxes or fees, or increase existing taxes or fees, adopted on or after the effective date of this 2018 Act.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Oregon

Jason Williams filed two versions of the proposal with the Oregon secretary of state. The first one, Initiative 10, was filed on November 14, 2016. The second one, Initiative 11, was filed on January 19, 2017.[3] Oregon requires that 1,000 signatures be submitted before a ballot title is drafted.

Sponsors of the initiative withdrew Initiative 10 from consideration on February 14, 2017, and Initiative 11 from consideration on April 11, 2017.[3]

Petitioners were required to collect 88,184 valid signatures to get their initiated state statute on the ballot. Signatures for initiatives needed to be submitted four months prior to the election on November 6, 2018, which was July 6, 2018.

See also

External links

Footnotes