So, if it is the OREGON Historical Society, why does Multnomah County get the honor of supporting it and not the other counties. In addition, DMV is directing license plate funds to the Society. Who has the oversight for this group?

Hello....Realty Trust Group...?

A I count it, we so far have Randy's fire truck bond tax, TriMet's "..we need buses bond tax". PPS had the sense to skip this election; Portland parks read the handwriting on the wall, too.Did MultCo go again with a library levy? I don't recall.

Today, I dent the following to Mult Co chair Cogan (mult.chair@co.multnomah.or.us)
ubject Tax Levy for Oregon Historical Historical Society?
mailed-by gmail.com

and Kafoury, (district1@co.multnomah.or.us) the Mult Co Chair and the Commissioner from the area where I live:

"Tax Levy for Oregon Historical Society?

"I am astounded and angry that the Multnomah County Commission would even consider seeking a property tax levy for the Oregon Historical Society, (OHS) or any East County historical societies. (http://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=128163962120281500)

If OHS is in any manner a public concern meriting tax dollars, it must seek those from the Legislature on a statewide basis. It is NOT the business of Multnomah County or the long suffering Multnomah County taxpayers.

OHS is not a core county mission. The Sellwood Bridge is a core county function. The Multnomah County Commission still hasn't full funding in hand for the Sellwood Bridge. (http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/08/09/story7.html?b=1281326400^3764201&s=industry&i=logistics_transportation)

Please, do your actual job before expending my money on bread and circuses like the OHS.

I will watch your vote very carefully."

/signed/

If f you feel strongly about this Oregon Historical Society silliness, make your voice heard before Thursday, August 19.

The Oregon Historical Society is not a governmental entity. It is incorporated as a public benefit company, with members. A private entity.

I can create a public benefit non-profit too: "I Do Good Things" with a membership of one, me.

If it is legal for the Oregon Historical Society to get a dedicated cut of property taxes, then so too it would be legal for me to get a cut. This is independent of whether or not a set of voters would agree to the property tax item.

The Oregon Historical Society can be dissolved and them resurrected as whole new governmental entity, accountable through direct elections of top dogs (by whatever title) or by way of appointment of top dogs by perhaps the governor just as with the Port of Portland, ORS 778.

Any tax imposed by Multnomah County can not be dedicated to be redirected to the Oregon Historical Society.

All manner of gifting by government of tax collections (and fees) to people or to non-profits-created-by-people is inherently vulnerable to arbitrary decision making. There is no standard to apply to guard against or even to confine arbitrariness, for which a court could even begin to try to review for arbitrariness.

The people who want tax dollars to fund activities related to local history should follow the ordinary "process" and introduce legislation at the state level. Call the new legislatively incorporated entity Portland Metro Historical Preservation Commission, or something similar. It would be a governmental entity, with a valid taxing district and (theoretically) accountability, and would coexist with the still-private Oregon Historical Society.

Multnomah County does not have authority over the state rules regarding incorporation.

If the Oregon Historical Society does dissolve then their collections could be transferred to the Portland Auditor's office for preservation.

Has Agnes Sowle offered an official legal opinion on the appropriateness of the matter?

OHS doesn't have the legal authority to levy taxes, which is why this is money will be funneled through the County. With all of the suffering basic services, this County Commission should be recalled for sending this measure to the ballot.

Also - I've toured the OHS warehouse in Gresham, and 90% of the content is old crap that rich people donated for the tax writeoff. The place is crammed full of old cars, old furniture, and various and sundry JUNK. This is what your tax dollars will be paying for friends - the care and maintenance of a bunch of old crap, in order to sustain a tax-shelter vehicle for rich people. Classic Portland government boondogle.

We have a levy for the swimming pools on the Tigard ballot. Which, unlike Portland, can't be spent on bike lanes.

So after I move to Cincinnati, OH; and still own property in Portland... I guess I'm just getting screwed on all this stuff since I don't get to vote for it?

What a lovely system.

Please give money to OHS! Maybe then they won't have to rent their outdoor space for loud nighttime parties. They could actually do stuff related to history rather than disturb the neighborhood.

PDX Nag -

Agnes Sowle has very often demonstrated that she is a very very very good government lawyer -- she gives exactly the legal opinions her bosses want.

Dissolve it.

Merge the historical aspect in with the Secretary of State's Archives Division.

Merge the museum aspect in with Oregon State Parks, and move it to one of the 99.9% vacant buildings on the State Fairgrounds. Or just build another wing off of the Archives Building. (Remember that debacle?)

Sell off the OHS property in Portland and start collecting property taxes off of it. The sale of the building should cover the moving expenses.

Problem solved.

Erik H. for Mayor!!! If he doesn't screw up, he'll be Governor within 20 years.