Examples of tax $$ spent on massive partying

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation,

•Ÿ $75,000 zoo party: Oregon’s regional transit agency, Tri-Met, spent an astonishing $75,029 for an employee appreciation event at the zoo.  This is at the same time the agency (1) is facing a $300 million shortfall, (2) just raised bus ticket prices by double digits, and (3) increased the transit payroll tax in 2025.  That transit payroll tax is a tax on wages, regardless if you use transit or not.  This regional transit payroll tax is not to be confused with the (.1%) statewide payroll transit tax, which is the only such statewide transit tax in the nation. (KATU 11/15/25)

•Ÿ Talent show, goat therapy event: Four Portland city agencies (water, transportation, public works, and parks) spent an estimated $11,589 on a city employee appreciation party featuring a talent show and therapy goats.  A spokesperson said the $11,000 party was “modest” and was needed to help employees “connect” to each other.  At the same time the party was held, one of the agencies warned that it was laying off 50 employees due to cuts. (Willamette Week 9/16/25)

•Ÿ Kotek concert tickets. State auditors faulted Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for spending $550 in tax dollars on concert tickets for herself and others to attend three separate concerts.   Her office also spent $63 on movie tickets.  (Yahoo News 1/8/25).

•Ÿ Lavish Christmas party. The Oregon Energy Trust spent a combined $26,500 on a Christmas party and an employee retirement party.  The Oregon Energy Trust is funded by a mandatory 3% tax on your utility bill called the Public Purpose Charge. Previously, the Trust had so much money lying around that auditors faulted them for sitting on $14 million in unspent funds. (State audit June 2018, also State Audit May 2012)

•Ÿ Cruise party: Portland Public Schools spent $13,000 for a group retirement party aboard a boat.  This included $1,068 for flowers shipped from Hawaii and $1,700 spent on crystal appreciation giveaway gifts.  (Oregon Education Audit 1/2019)

•Ÿ $3 million for Portland festivals. In 2025, a $3 million state grant was awarded to a private nonprofit to support festivals at Portland’s Tom McCall Waterfront Park.  It is not the role of the government to force rural Oregonians to pay for festivals in big cities that they cannot reasonably attend, as they are seven hours away.  Some of these festivals charge as much as $145 to attend. (HB 5006, 2025)

Ÿ• $200,000 Kotek spouse event. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek spent $200,000 of taxpayer dollars hiring a consulting firm to put on a one-day mental-health conference that primarily featured Kotek’s spouse. The $200,000 conference had only 28 guest attendees making it cost taxpayers over $,7000 per guest to attend. (Oregonlive 8/2/24)

Ÿ• $10 million for mega-restaurant. The taxpayer-funded James Beard Food Court is delayed and over budget by millions.  The Celebrity Food Court has received a $10 million grant from the State of Oregon.  That will not help much since the project is $15 million over budget.  Already nearby is another food court, The Flock, which is taxpayer subsidized.  That food court is in the same building as Oregon’s most expensive hotel/condo, the Ritz-Carlton, which also received tax subsidies.  The Ritz-Carlton only lasted one year before spiraling towards bankruptcy. (KGW 1/17/25)