35 Years of State Budget Growth
Looking at 35 years of Oregon State Budget Growth shows that Oregon has had a near perfect streak of positive growth except for one budget cycle.
Williams is a life-long taxpayer advocate who has archived the state’s largest collection of government waste. Jason heads both the Taxpayer Association of Oregon Foundation and its sister organization, Taxpayer Association of Oregon.
Oregon adds 17 new government jobs a day
An analysis by the Oregon Employment Department data on job growth shows that Oregon is adding new government jobs at a fast pace. In 2014, Oregon added 4,600 new government jobs, 5,400 added in 2015 and 5,800 for 2016. There are some periods where employment slows or declines, but the three year trend is fast…
State Employees make double what average workers earn
A report from the State Legislative Fiscal Office and the Statesman Journal (3/1/16) compare numbers between state employees and average Oregonians worker salaries including benefits. The numbers show that State Employees ($89,000) make nearly double what average Oregonians make ($45,893).
Reports to Government Waste hotline up 35%
Oregon Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins released the annual report on Oregon’s government waste hotline. In 2015, the hotline received 243 initial reports. This continues an upward trend: there were 180 reports in 2014, 154 in 2013, and 145 in 2012. Data prior to 2011 is not comparable due to changes in the reporting system.…
Oregon: #1 Tax and Spend State in the West
Oregon state & local government spend more per capita in the West and more than 39 other states. You can compare on the chart below.
Nearly 80% of Oregonians blind to PERS disaster
Poll: 78% unaware of PERS disaster By Taxpayer Association of Oregon Foundation Oregon’s public employee retirements system (PERS) is now a staggering $20-$22 billion in unfunded liability. Just this week it was announced that it grew by another $3 billion and made front page news. A 2015 telephone poll of 300 Oregonians by the Taxpayer…
Taxpayer Foundation in the news exposing $100,000 wasted on city hall TV
Taxpayer Foundation researcher Richard Leonetti was on KATU-TV over Hillsboro paying $100,000 for a jumbo-tron TV. KATU-TV News transcript — Dec. 10 2015: The City of Hillsboro spent more than $110,000 on a large television display used during city council meetings at the Shirley Huffman Auditorium at the Hillsboro Civic Center.”If you ‘re attending the…
Poll tests “Privacy vs. Security” debate
An Oregon poll examines at a hot-button issue to gauge where Oregonians stand on privacy & liberty against the needs of security & law enforcement.
Oregon regions seeing above average growth
University of Oregon Regional Economic Indexes Press Release provided by Tim Duy Oregon Economic Forum University of Oregon Oregon Regional Economic Indicators: October measures of economic activity were generally solid across all regions in Oregon. Highlights of the report include: Moving average measures of activity – which smooth monthly volatility – indicate that the Portland…
Big 25th Birthday Party for Measure 5
Nearly 200 people showed up to the Portland Airport Shilo Inn to celebrate the 25th Birthday of Measure 5 on December 2nd. The cake read “You saved our home” Without Measure 5 your property taxes would be 40% higher!