New costs sink businesses. No room for new tax.

By Jason Williams
In: Measure 37
Wednesday June 20, 2007

The cost of Doing Business in Oregon is Skyrocketing!

UTILITY RATES TO RISE +13%
Due to a court decision PGE and Pacific Power rates will be going up 13% this year. (1)

HEALTH CARE COSTS RISE +7%
In 2006, employer health insurance premiums increased by 7.7 percent — two times the rate of inflation. Total national health expenditures rose 6.9 percent. (2)

GAS PRICES RISE +28%
Oregon reached record high gas prices in April 2007, and rated among 10 highest gas prices in the state. (3)

MINIMUM WAGE ROSE +4%
On January 2007 Oregon’s minimum wage rose 30 cents per hour

HOUSING COSTS ROSE +19.5%
Portland had the nation’s second highest housing Bump. (4)

Message to legislature:
Don’t raise taxes on Oregon businesses. They are struggling enough!

Notes
(1) The Oregonian 5-31-2007.
(2) “National Health Spending in 2005.” Health Affairs 26:1 (2006)
(3) KOIN TV -6 April 23, 2007, KGW-TV8 June 8, 2007
(4) The Oregonian 9-06-2006, Portland Business Journal 3-28-2007

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