Ballot Measure 5 was a landmark piece of direct legislation in the U.S. state of Oregon in 1990. Measure 5, an amendment to the Oregon Constitution (Article XI, Section 11), established limits on Oregon's property taxes on real estate. Its primary champion and spokesman was Don McIntire,[1] a politically-active Gresham health club owner who would go on to lead the Taxpayers Association of Oregon.
Property taxes dedicated for school funding were capped at $15 per $1,000 of real market value per year and gradually lowered to $5 per $1,000 per year. Property taxes for other purposes were capped at $10 per $1,000 per year. Thus, the total property tax rate would be 1.5% at the end of the five-year phase in period.[2] The measure transferred the responsibility for school funding from local government to the state, to equalize funding.
The measure was passed in the November 6, 1990 general election with 574,833 votes in favor, 522,022 votes against. It was one of the most contentious measures in Oregon election history.
Although measure numbers are reused, the effect of this measure on the state was significant enough that when Oregonians speak of Measure 5, they are usually referring to the specific measure passed in 1990. Measure 5 is often seen as the beginning of the Oregon tax revolt. One effect of the measure was that funding for local schools was shifted from primarily local property tax funds to state funds.[3] With this, it led to a general equalization of funding between districts as funds are now given to districts based on the number of students in each district.[3] Schools with higher value property in their districts previously could fund local schools at a higher rate than more economically depressed areas.
Passage of the measure and the limits led to some discussion of eliminating county services in Multnomah County by combining them with Portland city services or Metro, as well as talks of combining Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties into one large urban county for the Portland metro area.[4]
Lasting effects and subsequent legislationedit
The measure has remained controversial since its passage. Oregon remains one of only five states without a sales tax, the others being Alaska, Delaware, Montana, and New Hampshire. Furthermore, the measure is blamed for cuts in school programs, the budget crises of 2002 and 2003 and cuts to statewide public safety programs, including deep cuts to the Oregon State Police which never fully recovered from 50% staffing reductions. Many critics say that then-Governor Barbara Roberts' warning that Measure 5's passage would lead to massive chaos has been borne out. Supporters defend the measure as necessary to curb government spending excesses.
Measure 5 was followed up with Measure 47 in 1996 and Measure 50 in 1997. Measure 47 limited the growth of a property's assessed value to 3% maximum per year to combat local governments' raising assessed values to make up the difference in the rate they could charge.[2] Measure 50 clarified that measure.
Referencesedit
^"Don McIntire, activist who led property tax revolt, dies at 74". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Oregonian Media Group. October 12, 2012.
^ abSokolow, Alvin, D. (Winter 1998). "The Changing Property Tax and State-Local Relations: The State of American Federalism, 1997-1998". Publius. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. 28 (1): 165–187. doi:10.2307/3331014. JSTOR 3331014.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abGraces, Bill (September 26, 1993). "Schools: Teaching within our means". The Oregonian. Oregonian Media Group.
^Moore, Elizabeth (December 24, 1990). "Multnomah County officials mull effect of cap on taxes". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Oregonian Media Group.
External linksedit
Oregon Initiatives, Referenda and Recalls, 1988-1995
Wentz, Patty (May 2000). "The Ballot Measure that Ate Oregon". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2005-11-24.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
October 28, 2023
1990, oregon, ballot, measure, ballot, measure, landmark, piece, direct, legislation, state, oregon, 1990, measure, amendment, oregon, constitution, article, section, established, limits, oregon, property, taxes, real, estate, primary, champion, spokesman, mci. Ballot Measure 5 was a landmark piece of direct legislation in the U S state of Oregon in 1990 Measure 5 an amendment to the Oregon Constitution Article XI Section 11 established limits on Oregon s property taxes on real estate Its primary champion and spokesman was Don McIntire 1 a politically active Gresham health club owner who would go on to lead the Taxpayers Association of Oregon Property taxes dedicated for school funding were capped at 15 per 1 000 of real market value per year and gradually lowered to 5 per 1 000 per year Property taxes for other purposes were capped at 10 per 1 000 per year Thus the total property tax rate would be 1 5 at the end of the five year phase in period 2 The measure transferred the responsibility for school funding from local government to the state to equalize funding The measure was passed in the November 6 1990 general election with 574 833 votes in favor 522 022 votes against It was one of the most contentious measures in Oregon election history Contents 1 Historical significance 2 Lasting effects and subsequent legislation 3 References 4 External linksHistorical significance editAlthough measure numbers are reused the effect of this measure on the state was significant enough that when Oregonians speak of Measure 5 they are usually referring to the specific measure passed in 1990 Measure 5 is often seen as the beginning of the Oregon tax revolt One effect of the measure was that funding for local schools was shifted from primarily local property tax funds to state funds 3 With this it led to a general equalization of funding between districts as funds are now given to districts based on the number of students in each district 3 Schools with higher value property in their districts previously could fund local schools at a higher rate than more economically depressed areas Passage of the measure and the limits led to some discussion of eliminating county services in Multnomah County by combining them with Portland city services or Metro as well as talks of combining Multnomah Washington and Clackamas counties into one large urban county for the Portland metro area 4 Lasting effects and subsequent legislation editThe measure has remained controversial since its passage Oregon remains one of only five states without a sales tax the others being Alaska Delaware Montana and New Hampshire Furthermore the measure is blamed for cuts in school programs the budget crises of 2002 and 2003 and cuts to statewide public safety programs including deep cuts to the Oregon State Police which never fully recovered from 50 staffing reductions Many critics say that then Governor Barbara Roberts warning that Measure 5 s passage would lead to massive chaos has been borne out Supporters defend the measure as necessary to curb government spending excesses Measure 5 was followed up with Measure 47 in 1996 and Measure 50 in 1997 Measure 47 limited the growth of a property s assessed value to 3 maximum per year to combat local governments raising assessed values to make up the difference in the rate they could charge 2 Measure 50 clarified that measure References edit Don McIntire activist who led property tax revolt dies at 74 The Oregonian Portland Oregon Oregonian Media Group October 12 2012 a b Sokolow Alvin D Winter 1998 The Changing Property Tax and State Local Relations The State of American Federalism 1997 1998 Publius Oxford England Oxford University Press 28 1 165 187 doi 10 2307 3331014 JSTOR 3331014 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link a b Graces Bill September 26 1993 Schools Teaching within our means The Oregonian Oregonian Media Group Moore Elizabeth December 24 1990 Multnomah County officials mull effect of cap on taxes The Oregonian Portland Oregon Oregonian Media Group External links editOregon Initiatives Referenda and Recalls 1988 1995 Wentz Patty May 2000 The Ballot Measure that Ate Oregon Willamette Week Archived from the original on 2005 11 24 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link The Oregon Constitution Oregon Taxpayers Union Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1990 Oregon Ballot Measure 5 amp oldid 1024145331, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
