A service of the Taxpayer Association of Oregon Foundation.
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation Oregon population growth will rebound, then stabilize over the next few years, according to the Oregon Office of Economic analysis. The prediction is based on typical business cycle patterns, and the number of out of state licenses surrendered to the Oregon DMV. Surrendered licenses are the best leading indicator…
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation According to the U.S. Census’ 2021 American Community Survey, between 2019 and 2021 work from home workers increased from 6% of the labor force to 18%. In Oregon, it went from 7% in 2019 to 23% in 2021. Oregon ranks as the fifth highest work from home state. 2022…
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation December spending on services was the worst in nearly a year, retail spending fell 3 of the last 4 months, rising mortgage interest rates drove existing home sales to their lowest level since 2014, and car sales were the worst in more than a decade. Government stimulus funds and…
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation According to the Oregon Office of Econoimic Analysis, 21 percent of Oregon renter households in the state were living in poverty, and 44 percent of rental households spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent. Fifty-four percent of renters do not have enough income left over after…
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation HB 3010 limits Oregonian’s mortgage interest deduction from January 1, 2024 to January 1, 2028. Under the bill, fifty percent of the estimated revenue increase due to lowering the mortgage interest deduction will be dedicated to the Oregon First-Time Home Buyer Account. The First-Time Home Buyer Account will fund…
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans. ERISA covers $7.6 Trillion in assets managed on behalf of 140 million American…
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation In May, voters in Multnomah County will vote on implementing an adjustable 0.75% capital gains tax to provide free lawyers to tenants being evicted. Portland and Multnomah County already subsidize legal defense for low-income renters facing eviction. Backers needed 22,686 valid signatures to qualify the measure for the May…
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation. Some things on the internet are not what they seem to be at first glance. The chart below, purporting Lucky Charms to be healthier than steak, and Frosted Mini Wheats healthier than almost evertyhthing except Kale, is a perfect example. The chart was created not to support those ridiculous…
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation, Doxo reports that Portland makes the top 12 utility cost cities. This now puts utility costs among the nation’s highest along with taxes, fees, gas prices, cost of living and housing costs. The U.S. average bill is $351. Oregon utility bills exceeded the U.S. national average at $363 per…
By Jason Williams Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation, Veronica Guerin is a superb 2003 true-life story featuring Kate Blanchett as she plays the Irish journalist who took on the drug lords and was murdered for it. In the 1990’s, drugs and crime were experiencing a surge in Ireland. Newspapers were reluctant to report on it.…