Oregon Tax News

Oregon Student & Recent Graduate
Writing Contest
Top Prize: Your choice new Apple iPad2 or new HP laptop.

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Subject — “Oregon Education: Your experience, evaluation & advice”
Length –Very short, under 475 words
Open to — Oregon H.S. students, College & recent graduates (within 4 years)
Deadline: April 25th, 2012
Prize: Winner chooses between  an  iPad2 or a new HP 4GB Laptop.
Student iPad Benefit: Digital textbooks saves $$$, Powerful Video capabilities, WiFi,
Entries to date: As of 3/29/12 — 11 applications requested. 1 application completed Read more…

Post office to close offices in Bend, Salem & Eugene.
By Oregon Tax News,

The U.S. Postal Service is making a few concessions to efficiency and closing four mail sorting centers in Oregon, part of its campaign to slash costs by closing more than 260 mail processing places nationwide. The Oregon facilities—located in Bend, Salem, Eugene, and Pendleton—will be shuttered starting as soon as mid-May, and the mail they formerly processed will be taken to Portland. Read more…

Oregon’s Zoo & Convention Center losing revenue
By Oregon Tax News

Taxpayer-funded zoos and convention centers across the country are losing money. The Oregon Zoo and Convention Center are no exception. The Portland Business Journal recently cited an independent review conducted by Tampa-based Crossroads Consulting showing the Zoo and Convention Center contributed to a nearly $19 million loss last year spread collectively among the Zoo, Convention Center, Centers for the Performing Arts, and Portland Expo. The Convention Center was responsible for the bulk of the loss—$10 million. The venues lost roughly $16 million during the prior fiscal year. Read more…

Oregon health job loss: OHSU & Legacy
By Oregon Tax News

Hundreds of health care related jobs in the Portland Metro area are being cut and more losses could be on the way if state reforms fail to produce savings promised by lawmakers.

In mid-December, KPTV reported that Legacy Health Systems plans to cut as many as 400 administrative jobs across its six hospitals and 36 clinics in Oregon and southwest Washington. A few days later, the Oregonian reported that layoffs and cuts in services to low-income families are being considered by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) because expected savings from state reforms are failing to materialize. In both cases, past cuts and the expectation of future reductions to state Medicaid programs have taken a toll. Read more…

By Oregon Tax News,

The Boeing Company has avoided another costly strike after a critical deal was struck between executives and union leaders that both are calling a “win-win.” Under an agreement forged last week and ratified by Machinist union members on Wednesday, Boeing will move ahead with a new, non-union plant in South Carolina to assemble its 787 airplane, while also guaranteeing work on another aircraft—the 737 Max—at union facilities in Renton, WA. In exchange for work guarantees on the 737 Max, union leaders will withdraw the federal lawsuit it filed through the National Labor Relations Board against Boeing. Read more…

Foreclosures Still Plague Oregon Housing Market Account for One in Three Home Sales
By Oregon Tax News

Foreclosures continue to flood Oregon’s housing market and accounted for one-third of all home sales this spring. At 33 percent, Oregon’s housing market is in the top 10 in terms of foreclosed homes as a percentage of all home sales. In Oregon, foreclosed homes sell for about 30 percent less on average than non-foreclosed homes. The number of foreclosed homes on the market, therefore, continues to contribute to declining home values in Oregon and elsewhere. Read more…

Could a Bailout Save the Postal Industry?
By Oregon Tax News,

A 2010 GAO report detailed that the U.S. Postal Service is on the brink of an economic meltdown. There have been serious calls to save costs by ending Saturday service and to close nearly 2,000 office. Oregon has over 40 post offices on the national target list.

The U.S. Postmaster General told federal lawmakers that the U.S. Postal Service is about to default on billions of dollars in workers’ compensation and retiree health payments and needs Congress’ help to make payroll. The U.S. Postal Office payroll obligations is above industry standard

Percent of budget to employee benefits
USPS, 80%
UPS, 61%
FedEx, 43%
- Source: Bloomberg Businessweek Read more…