That caption is amazingly misleading.

How about:

"Enacts new retroactive tax to fundarts programs in local school districts in Portland, and provide funds for non school arts projects."

Is the filing deadline July 3 (next Tuesday) or July 10 (week from Tuesday)?

How much is the filing fee?
One filing fee, 50 petitioners?

The Financial Impact and Public Involvement Statement prepared by the city clearly states:

"The tax is a flat $35 per income-earning resident.

If you think of Portland as a bizarre form of entertainment, it's just another cover charge.

Weird really isn't working.

If someone here files a petition against and needs signatures - PLEASE let us know so we can sign!

The tax is a flat $35 per income-earning resident? Hmmm. Is "income" defined as actual earnings, or checks sent from home? I'm asking because I want to see if Portland's ever-expanding hipster population will be hit up for this, or if they're purely recipients instead of contributors.

Think of it as the:
"Slacker Artists Full Employment Act"

My guess is that this will function along the same lines as the MultCo tax that went for 3 (?) years a few years back. I'll bet that tax-paying residents pay according to a chart based on taxable income in order to call it a "tax," but that the categories will be really broad so as to ensure that pretty much everyone pays $35, eg. AGI = 10K-29,999K = no tax, 30K-39,999K = $30, 40K and higher = $35.

I wonder if the school board was consulted prior to Sam pitching this tax. Voter frustration with this one could bleed over and take votes away from their more costly bond measure.

Tankfixer, don't forget all of the government employees and attorneys who will gain employment from this measure, as well. Wonder what the net amount collected after expenses will really be!

Typical of our "progressive" mayor. Completely tone death to the fact that people in this town don't want and can't afford more taxes/fees, and structured in such a fashion that it will likely cost hundreds of thousands in legal fees (because this doesn't pass the smell test) and alienate people toward an otherwise worthy cause. It would be a different story if the city could be trusted to use funds in an appropriate manner, but under Sam the Scam, that hasn't been the case. Wonder if some of the grafted bike funds could have been used for arts education?

Currently the city or Portland has no authority to tax. That's why the business income tax is called a "fee", even though it is based on gross revenue and is, for all practical intents and purposes, a tax.

No matter how attractive it may seem to folks to help fund the arts in schools, they must not vote for this tax. This would, for the first time, give the city the authority to tax. The camel's nose will be in the tent and we will never see the end of it.

If you want to help the schools, write them a thirty five dollar check.

If you want to help the schools, write them a thirty five dollar check.

The best part of that idea is you'll know CoP can't use it as another mystery slush fund for its photo-op projects.

Since Portland has no authority to tax, then I'm sure when this goes to the US Supreme Court, Roberts will rule against CoP for imposing a tax that has been disguised as a fee. Oh wait, they even called it a "limited tax" on the ballot title.

What gives???

Oh wait, they even called it a "limited tax" on the ballot title. What gives???

CoP is probably simply seizing the authority to impose a tax.

Until somebody says "no you can't" and has the power and will to back it up, so far this mayor and his council have been willing to try just about anything they please just to see if they can get away with it.

Much like very naughty children, except in this case the kids have taken your wallet, all your keys, and have locked you out of the house.

Where is the language about the part of the swindle that has tax dollars going to the non-profits? It is obvious Sammyboy’s rhetorical propaganda about promoting transparency is just another one of his lies.

"It's so dopey that you think it couldn't possibly pass -- but then you look at the two finalists for mayor and you realize, anything's possible."

In our defense, if the mayoral election was choices were Hales, Smith or No, No would win in a landslide.

"In our defense, if the mayoral election was choices were Hales, Smith or No, No would win in a landslide."

Given that the choices were Hales, Smith and several others in the primary and Hales and Smith are the only ones left standing, I would say this statement is not true. At least not in Portland.....sorry...had to point out that that combination was already offered and rejected.....

I'm prepared to pay their silly "tax"

In pennies....

Canadian, pennies...

Why can't they instead fire or lay off (or to use a doublespeak term, de-hire) some of the useless skool bureaucrats, from alleged vice-principals to teachers' aides? By going along with this tax, it prevents forcing those in power to make decisions that they really need to sooner or later.

Bob Tiernan
NE Portland