Yay, we don't have a rainy day fund, and I get a check for our state's poor fiscal planning! Then again, what are the odds that the state will ever again hurt for money like we did a few years ago?

"we don't have a rainy day fund"

I beleive they did set up a rainy day fund after all. Besides, they would blow thru any rainy day fund they set up. Look at CoP, it gets $30M extra and all of a sudden we need doula training.

Giving it back to the people who paid it is the best way to invest it.

The kciker comes from what is above and beyond forecasted budgeted amounts any way.

What about all those bridges that are falling apart? Wouldn't repairing the bridges be a better investment than chinese-made lead-impregnated toys for under the christmas trees???

This kicker is a really dumb idea, particularly in a State where the basic infrastructure is falling into disrepair. I don't need the money. I will just spend it on useless crap. Why not collectively invest it in public facilities - like roads, parks, hiking trails, sewage treatment plants, etc. Think about it.

I will just spend it on useless crap.

Not everyone will. The kicker is dumb, but it's a symptom of a much bigger dumbness, started in earnest by Ronald Reagan: Taxes are bad, and any politician who ever raises taxes or proposes a new tax should be drummed out of office forever.

That's a truly stupid way to run a government, but that's pretty much where somewhere around 50% of the voters in this country are. Get ready for some more Minneapolis nosedives, people.

"I will just spend it on useless crap." That's your choice, it's your money.

Personally, I'll take my kicker, purchase some needed supplies for my kids and myself and not look back.

If you haven't been paying attention; cities, counties and our state are adding more taxes all the time. They are sometimes obvious; Tigard's new gas tax. Others are hidden as "user fees," "planning fee's," a fee to replace an old porch light." And the list goes on.

That's a truly stupid way to run a government, but that's pretty much where somewhere around 50% of the voters in this country are.

Amen

Changing the 50%'s attitude will be a next to impossible struggle.

I don't understand the kicker. getting money back after paying my taxes...that is hilarious. Sure, I appreciated the last one, as I will this when I cash the check, but come on! How much do you think it costs to even run the kicker...figuring out the amount each person is owed, and printing, and postage etc. WASTE of already collected funds if you ask me. But then again, I'm just another rube I'll probably give it to some sorry sap con artist anyway.

I don't need the money.

Wow! Good for you. I wish I could say that. That $600 will pay a couple of my student loan payments, a big chunk of one of my credit cards..or pretty much be my Christmas budget. Yeah, I can use it.

"I don't understand the kicker."
Think of it as the paying taxes, BUT PAYING MORE than you and everyone in the state needed to. Then, when all of the taxes are added up, you find out that the state owes the taxpayers a REFUND... that's what the kicker is.

"WASTE of already collected funds if you ask me."
Maybe we should do away with the IRS section which is in charge of REFUNDS. Think of all the money we would save if they didn't have to spend time refunding all of the Federal dollars.

I highly recommend that those of you who think that our State and Local governments do not have enough revenue obtain a Multnomah County Business License, and attempt to make a living with it.

Personally, I think we desperately need to have an outside entity come in, preferably from overseas, and do a crystal-clear financial audit of both our State and Local governments, top to bottom, left to right. See where all of those pennies that add up are really going.

I would bet money that there is revenue to spare, once all of the waste, fraud, and outright theft is exposed to the light of day. It will never happen, though. Too many very powerful hands in the cookie jar.

"See where all of those pennies that add up are really going."
I'd like to see a task force waltz through every public agencyt office and ask every worker what they are producing today. If they haven't an answer pack up and get out.

I'll guess 25% of some agencies produce absolutely nothing to justify their showing up for "work".

For those of you who either 'don't need' the money, or 'will spend it on useless crap', or really want to allow the government to have more money to spend - you can send it to the government; they won't refuse it. However, if you think they will spend it wisely, then you haven't been looking at the tram, the huge subsidies that are spent on streetcars and light rail, etc., etc.

IF (big if) the government actually spent it on things like bridges and roads, if every penny went there. If our projects were paid at normal wages instead of the Davis-Bacon wages - I'd seriously think about letting the government keep the extra money. However, the one thing the government keeps showing is that it doesn't have a clue. Bad government, no more money for you.

Carol,

How would you fund things like schools, roads, libraries, mental healthcare, hospitals, etc. without taxes?

The kicker is incredibly stupid and insane fiscal policy. Can't wait for the impending recession when there won't be much money to "kick" back to citizens. Thanks subprime lenders!

Murray,
I'm at a loss of words over your response, but I'll try.

A. You missed the point to my post, and probably many other posts.

B. Yes, we need schools, roads, libraries, mental healthcare, hospitals. Seems like a good idea to me, and those are many of the reasonable expectations I have for the use of taxes.

Hope this helps you out.

Yes, we need schools, roads, libraries, mental healthcare, hospitals.

That's why the legislature increased spending by 20%.
The kicker doesn't effect that increase.
Apparently some think that isn't enough.
Amazing.

"The kicker is incredibly stupid and insane fiscal policy. Can't wait for the impending recession when there won't be much money to "kick" back to citizens. Thanks subprime lenders!"

OK

If we have a recession, then the kicker will be smaller, but the same principalas apply - if tax revenues exceed bidgted spending, it goes back to the taxpayers who overpaid.

The big issue is Teddy's spending spree with the upside income. Teddy will start doing things like hiring more people than needed for pet projects and then when the recession hits, we will have all of those bodies to support while taxpayers have less income.

Again, I don't have a problem with more taxes, it just doesnt get spent on what taxpayers want. Example - Teddy's statement that the $1B usiide in the education budget won't redice student:teacher ratios, it will fund benefits.

Those of you who do not want a kicker check, or think you cannot spend it better than the government, please just send it back.

Let's call this a referendum, if more than half send the money back then we should get rid of the kicker.