Historical society hits up county for higher taxes

The Portland Tribune reports that the Oregon Historical Society is exploring creation of a “heritage taxing district” empowered to collect a modest amount of property taxes, with voter approval, in Multnomah County.

A tentative proposal is to charge 5 cents in taxes for every $1,000 in assessed property value, or $10 a year for owners of a house with a $200,000 tax assessment.

That rate would raise $2 million a year for the Oregon Historical Society, plus smaller amounts to be shared with other museums in the county.

Are higher property taxes next for Oregon?

A column by Oregonian columnist, Steve Duin, targets Coos County's biggest property tax payers for ... gulp ... not paying enough property taxes.

As if on cue, Chuck Sheketoff, architect of Oregon's recent income tax increases known as Measures 66 and 67, chimes in to sing the tune of raising business taxes even more: "The wealthiest among us contribute the least share of their income to state and local taxes."

Hang on to your wallets!