2 Town Halls on tolls, gas tax increase

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

The Joint Transportation Committee of State Senators and State Representatives are touring Oregon with Town Halls asking people to share their opinions and ideas on how to fund our roads.

Some of the ideas that will likely be discussed at the Town Hall are:

* Putting up 8 tolls in Metro area (without public vote)
* Raising the gas tax
* Raising vehicle registration fees

Sept. 26 — Happy Valley, Adrienne Nelson High School Theater
Sept. 27 — Hillsboro, Civic Center Shirley Huffman Auditorium

The Oregon Department of Transportation has announced they are $350 million in debt (KPTZ 8/4/24).

ODOT is in debt despite the fact that Oregon has the nation’s 10^th highest gas tax according to the Tax Foundation.   ODOT is in debt despite the fact that Biden’s Infrastructure Act awarded Oregon $4.5 billion for infrastructure and road-related projects.   ODOT is in debt despite lawmakers passing new road taxes in 2017 which included; (1) a brand new .1% payroll tax on our wages to pay for transportation (2) a brand new sales tax on cars (3) a brand new tax on bikes (4) increased auto registration fees and (5) increased truck fees.   How is it that we enacted 5 tax increases to pay for transportation and seven years later we are in debt?

Our transportation dollars are being spent on non-road projects like Portland’s new $134 million Tillicum bridge which only allows bikes and buses to use.

Oregon is spending nearly $500 million tax dollars on subsidizing wealthy people to purchase electric vehicles and for charging stations.   As Oregon spends $500 million on electric vehicles it is paying people to use vehicles that no longer pay the gas tax and for which damage the roads worse because electric vehicles are heavier than gas cars. So Oregon is using tax dollars to make the roads and reduce the gas tax that pays for the roads.

Politicians want to completely surround the Portland Metro area with tolls.

These town halls are designed to hear from the public, so please show up and share your ideas, opinions and thoughts and let them know you don’t want higher taxes.

Sept. 26, Happy Valley: Adrienne Nelson High School Theater 14897 SE Parklane Drive Happy Valley, Public Comment at 5pm

Official Notice of Happy Valley Transportation Town Hall

Sept. 27, Hillsboro: Hillsboro Civic Center Shirley Huffman Auditorium 150 E. Main Street, Hillsboro, Public Comment at 5pm

Official Notice of Hillsboro Transportation Town Hall

Note: You must register to give public comment. Registration begins at 4:30pm