Local businesses fund opposition to transportation measure
A measure on the November ballot that would expand the Portland area MAX light rail system in addition to funding youth transit passes, via the Metro regional government, is receiving pushback from the state’s business community.
The $5 billion measure would be funded by taxing the payroll of large Oregon businesses. Many companies, some of which are Oregon’s biggest and most influential corporations, have aligned themselves with the opposition and made cash contributions in the amount of $840,000 to “Stop the Metro Wage Tax” campaign.
Local unions and out-of-state infrastructure and construction firms have given approximately $560,000 to the pro-measure group “Get Moving PAC”.
Groups on each side of a measure are challenged to inform voters of their position and frequently turn to a flyer printing service to convince them of its validity.
If approved, businesses would have to pay a 0.75% payroll tax beginning in 2022, with businesses having 25 or fewer employees and local governments being exempt. That money would combine with $2bn in federal or state money to pay for two decades of transportation improvements.
The transportation tax package has been years in the making and originally many in the Oregon business community backed it, the Portland Business Alliance among them, which is the largest chamber of commerce in the region. However, opb.org notes that attitudes have changed since the pandemic took effect.
The $5 billion measure would be funded by taxing the payroll of large Oregon businesses. Many companies, some of which are Oregon’s biggest and most influential corporations, have aligned themselves with the opposition and made cash contributions in the amount of $840,000 to “Stop the Metro Wage Tax” campaign.
Local unions and out-of-state infrastructure and construction firms have given approximately $560,000 to the pro-measure group “Get Moving PAC”.
Groups on each side of a measure are challenged to inform voters of their position and frequently turn to a flyer printing service to convince them of its validity.
If approved, businesses would have to pay a 0.75% payroll tax beginning in 2022, with businesses having 25 or fewer employees and local governments being exempt. That money would combine with $2bn in federal or state money to pay for two decades of transportation improvements.
The transportation tax package has been years in the making and originally many in the Oregon business community backed it, the Portland Business Alliance among them, which is the largest chamber of commerce in the region. However, opb.org notes that attitudes have changed since the pandemic took effect.