A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Multnomah County commissioners have settled on a price tag for their bridge-funding measure planned for the May 20 ballot: a $24 annual increase in car registration fees.
The money would be earmarked to replace the Sellwood Bridge and make other improvements to the county's six Willamette River bridges.
In past weeks, county officials had talked about creating a local vehicle registration fee, with voter approval, costing between $15 to $27 a year. Now they have fixed the amount at $24 a year for 20 years.
The county will take the proposal out to the community for feedback, and to begin developing support for an expected vote on the fee increase.
Four town halls are scheduled to brief the public on the plan for a bridge safety fund:
• Thursday, Jan. 31, 6 to 8 p.m., Multnomah County East, Sharron Kelley Room, 600 N.E. Eighth St., Gresham.
• Monday, Feb. 4, 6 to 8 p.m., Midland Library, 805 S.E. 122nd Ave., Portland.
• Monday, Feb. 11, 6 to 8 p.m., Multnomah County Building boardroom, 501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland.
• Tuesday, Feb. 19, 6 to 8 p.m., North Portland Health Clinic, 9000 N. Lombard St., Portland.
I just moved to my mother's house in Beaverton - yeah, that it - that's the story.
Change my license address, car registration - it's either that or I start using a bridge I haven't crossed in 11 years!!!!
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 04:41 AM
We already pay taxes for roads and bridges. Why don't they use the money for it's intended purpose instead of stealing it to use on their pet projects.
I agree with Tiffany, I already pay way too much in taxes for things I don't even use.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 04:43 AM
The comments above merely show the effectiveness of the right wing, republican noise machine over the past 25 years. People have lost the understanding of the commons, of shared sacrifice. I don't have children in the public schools, I've never called 911 for anything. Should I contribute only to the services I use, to roads and bridges I use? I don't use the street lights on the west side, so why should my taxes go to keep them lit. Sad, very sad.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 05:03 AM
Hey folks, just to put it in perspective..........it's not $24 when you register your car, its $48 since we register our cars every 2 years.
Its political double speak for them to announce it as an annual $24 dollar tax when they know full well that we register every 2 years.
I guess they hope people won't take the time to think or won't see through their omission of pertinent facts.
I'll be voting NO!
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 05:07 AM
"The comments above merely show the effectiveness of the right wing, republican noise machine over the past 25 years"
Just because people are fed with getting hijacked for yet another tax/fee every time we turn around, we're all right wing republicans?
Usually the people who cry the loudest about community are the ones who contribute the least but get the most benefit.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 05:18 AM
I don't have kids - never did - but I still pay for the schools.
But don't call me a right-wing Republican. I am a registered Democrat, have NEVER voted Republican, and I think that being maced & clubbed at the PSU anti-war protests back in the 70's pretty much excludes me from the right-wing moniker.
But I AM fed up with the misuse of my tax money over the years, and I believe rightfully so.
I support the efforts of Tri-Met, if not all of their solutions to transportation problems. I'm even willing to go with the $1.4B for the light rail sysyem.
But I DO WANT a better accountability & control over the use of tax dollars. The money should go to what the original intent was - NOT pet projects that have no relationship to the fund.
Greg, your reasoning makes sense if NO ONE outside Multnomah County ever used the bridge. You state that you feel that paying for services you DON'T use is fair. Isn't paying for services you DO use also fair? A toll on the bridge would impose the payment (on an EXPENSIVE project) on those that utilize it, both now & in the future.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 05:55 AM
There are 4 people at my work (in Milwaukie) that use the bridge to get to work each day. All 4 of them are from washington county. How come we have to pay for this bridge agian? I think a toll would be way more effective.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 06:49 AM
An analysis of tolling the Sellwood Bridge found that so many drivers would divert to a nearby bridge (such as the Ross Island Bridge) to avoid the toll that there would not be enough toll revenue to pay for the Sellwood Bridge. All bridges would need to be tolled for tolling to work, and that idea does not have public support.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 07:26 AM
Well if it is so easy for drivers to divert to another bridge that they would do so if Sellwood was tolled--doesn't speak very highly of the necessity of that bridge does it?
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 07:46 AM
That's OK, I have a house in Clackamas County also. I'll just change my home address. End of problem, for now anyway. I'm getting tired of Multnomah County wasting my tax dollars, like that school tax fiasco. I'm really glad I don't live in the City of Portland.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Since they waited too long to fix a bridge that needed replacement years ago, their neglect made the project much more expensive even with inflation figured into the equation. That is the simple logic of maintenance. I am not asking elected leaders to be clairvoyant, but expect them to do the work that needs to be done. Maintaining government assets should be at the top of that list. And for those who don't live in Portland/Multnomah, I would keep a very close eye on your wallets. This is just the start to the days of reckoning or should we say scheming.
In a related news item concerning more fees, as proposed by Sam Adams.
From today's O: The main opponents of a Portland fee to raise money for street maintenance dropped plans to refer the fee to voters after reaching a deal that lowers the rate for convenience stores and gives gas stations a break if the state raises the gas tax.
I see this as another "Sam Plan" to pressure the Salem legislature through the gas station operators lobby to raise the gasoline tax to help pay for the neglect by Portland. Think about it. If you are an operator would you rather pay a fee or pass along another tax to the consumer? A tax that would be paid by the entire state. I have said it before and will say it again. Because of the population demographics, the politics of Portland can have far reaching consequences to other parts of the state. The elected officials of Portland should act in accordance and citizens not in the city should be keenly aware of this.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Sounds like another County tram job. Use some of the light rail money, there is always millions available to blow on low use transportation.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 08:25 AM
I believe it is against the law for a local toll bridge. What this needs to be is a regional or even statewide issue, not just Multnomah County. If there was a state ballot measure to tack on $24 a year for car registration untl the end of time for all Oregon residents, and this money SPECIFICALLY went to bridge upkeep and repair, I would vote yes. A countywide grab for money, and the money doesn't even need to go to the Sellwood Bridge - no thank you. This isn't about being a Republican or a Democrat. This is about apparently the need to defeat a bad idea. This needs to be done at a larger level than the county level, especially since it appears that most of the bridge users are out of county residents. I know I haven't gone over the bridge in at least 5 years, though I just went under the bridge on a riverboat lol.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 08:26 AM
I believe that residents of Multnomah County have a responsibility to pay for and maintain County Infrastructure. Our elected County Officials have decided to "Tax" or "fee" to replace a county owned structure. The next question I have for the commissioners is what will they do to prevent this happening when it needs to be replaced 80 years from now? How will maintenance be paid for? Why don't we endow a fund to specifically to fund maintenance and replacement within a certain time frame? I don't want new taxes, but we could "plan" to prevent a problem from happening next time it's replaced.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 08:55 AM
When do we say STOP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know we elected these people but where is the common sense!
If the county has money set aside then they use it to borrow more money to build things like light rail tracks to destinations we don't need to go to. Who uses the Sellwood bridge more. Multnomah county or Clackamas county ?
When do we say stop
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 09:06 AM
At least we get to vote on this new fee/tax. Good for you Multnomah County.
Toll it so the biggest user - Clackamas County has to pay for it or figure out a way to build their own or the state needs to broker a compromise.
I am definitely not a right wing anti-tax Republican, just somebody who has occasionally been accused of being a liberal. I'm tired of being taken to the cleaners so Portland and Multnomah County can mismanage our money.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 09:10 AM
It's $2. a month people, less than one freaking Starbucks visit each month. Bite the bullet unless you have a better solution.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 09:20 AM
Lets be fair, the new Sellwood bridege better be for Cars & Trucks only,with this increase in Vehicle Registration fee's. No Bike's and Foot traffic allowed unless these two (Bike's and foot traffic share in the cost). Of course a State wide Bike Licensing and registration fee is long over do.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 09:33 AM
I agrree with Tiffany. WE would be some of those people who would rarely use that bridge so why should we have to pay.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Welcome to the "Socialist State of Oregon" where everyone pays for everyone else no matter if they use the bridge(s) or not. You all choose to live here and anyone that lives in Multnomah County needs to realize that enough will never be enough when it comes to taxes. If it comes up for a vote, just say "No" and if it mananges to get past the voting process then get a petition filed for a vote of the people - pretty simple.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Editorial response:
Rejected for containing spam text: 'cialis'
Twinges of guilt and need to clarify, Multnomah County really seam to do a better job than PDX on how they spend our money. However, they bring the criticism upon themselves by getting in bed with PDX, aka ITAX. Start putting pressure on the city and you will gain a lot more credibility. Thanks for letting us vote, unlike PDX with the street maintenance fee.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Let's just shut the bridge down altogether.
Barricade it.
Tomorrow.
Anyone that bitches and complains about it can sign up to pay for a new bridge. Only those who pay can use the new bridge. Think of it like Costco for bridges - you gotta be a member or you can't go through the door.
Those who don't pay can deal with traffic elsewhere.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Well i've only lived in portland for one year and I'm already upset about the taxes. I really wouldn't mind paying such high property tax if i actually felt we were getting something in return. I can only guess with the lack of sidewalks and street lights, roads filled with potholes and schools that need to raise 30 to 60,000 dollars just for music and gym that all that money must be misused. No I wont vote for any more taxes until I see were portland spends all its money. I think it's a good point that clackamas county or at least the state should foot some of the bill as well. I'm no right-winger either. Welcome to the new liberal.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Im a right-winger and I want this tax. I want them to tax the bejesus out of you all. Soon you will all be right-wingers. And that will make me happy.
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Question - will this be built using pre-cast, or the good ol' ODOT pour-on-site method that deteriorates like the Interstate & hwy overpasses that are now having to be replaced after 45-50 years use with - yep, MORE pour-on-site concrete, cause it's cheaper.......
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 11:34 AM
I laugh at the fact that people spend the time to post their thoughts about a tax of $2 per month, yet give the Bush Administration a pass on the spending in Iraq and the Pentagon as a whole. Half a trillion dollars would go pretty far here at home, wouldn't it?
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 01:50 PM
I believe that some of our bridges should be looked at in terms of Metro and not just individual counties. Multnomah county is taxed enough and it hurts growth in Portland proper and the eastside suburbs. It might be interesting to point out that 60% of drivers using the Sellwood bridge are from Washington county. Clackamas county also contributes many more users.
This only means that I small amount of the users are from Multnomah county.
But why should Multnomah county tax payers be burdened with the full cost of the project?
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 02:40 PM
No one has mentioned so far that both Clackamas and Wshington Counties are also considering putting registration fee or other transportation tax increases on the ballot-- so no need to move in with your mother after all...
The fact is that the region's transportation system is operated and maintained by interlocking jusrisdictions-- cities, counties, state, TriMet-- and all of us use this regional system as a whole no matter where we live and work. When you get off the Mult County's Sellwood Bridge you end up either on ODOT's Highway 43 or on Portland's streets. So how can you divide the system by artifical government turf lines?
Also, local governments receive a large portion of road maintenance money from the state gas tax which has not increased since 1993-- so it is hard to think that we are really paying our fair share for increased demand on the transportation system when you think we have been paying the same .24 per gallon with no increases for a decade and a half. I can't even believe I am willing to at least see the state gas tax increase--at least indexed to inflation-- but it's not reasonable to expect local governments to maintain infrastructure solely at the cost to those who live or work in a limited geographic area.
Should Mult County even be the owner of bridges? Why not a regional entity-gasp- Metro? Who could then share the cost of regional transportation in a theoretically more equitable distribution?
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 02:41 PM
"" - Oh, please!!! Read your history, rely on fact not emotions, you are sitting on the sidelines refusing to be a part of any solution. Attitudes such as yours kill our soldiers, and if you want them to pick up and leave 100's of thousands more will die, including more Americans. We have Presidential Election every 4 years as a reality check so we can choose another candidate - Remember we are a Republic NOT a Democracy. The Presidential Politics you are whining about is nothing compared to other Administrations. Pentagon spending as a percentage of GDP is lower than anytime after WWII - and the Private Sector benefits developments in technology. What have you done to serve the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan?
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 02:51 PM
""
Whaa and Bush, and the Republicans, and big Business.
Your Democrats are in Power and have Done NOTHING different. Go find one of their Blogs and Cry there. Or do they just turn a blind Eye to you after they Got Elected on the Lies they Fed You.
I love all these Politicians and their Lies to get elected.
I will Get those troops Out Immediately. The Logistics of doing something like that would take at least a Year, closer to two or three.
Where’s Nancy Pelosi now???
You think your Parties so great?
Where’s the Outrage now?
They Agree now and have kept their Mouths Shut because they don't want People to remember their policies and Ideas were WRONG.
Where was your Great Leader Billary when the USS Cole Got Bombed, The Two US Embassies got Bombed, The World trade Center “The First Time” got Bombed.
Oh Yea he was having a That’s my Private Life Moment in the Oval Office with an Intern and a Cigar. Your our Countries Elected Leader…You Have no Private Life during your term as the Leader of the USA.. Or didn’t you read the Job Description…The Piece of S$#T.
(email verified)
Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 01:30 AM
Where was Mr Bush when planes crashed into the WTC? Oh yeah, sitting in a classroom looking dumbstruck reading "My Pet Goat" while our country was attacked, an attack that was he was warned about but did nothing to prevent.
Your beloved GOP is going to have their butts handed to them this fall and I can't wait.
(email verified)
Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 01:42 AM
Don't count on being able to vote on this vehicle registration fee increase until you actually see it on the ballot. Sam the Scam said the same thing about being able to vote on the utility "fee" and now look at how he has done a last minute end run leaving precious little time (30 days) to challenge the increase. Sam's water and sewer "fee" (remember this when you are voting for mayor) is $4.54 per month or %54.48 per year. Add that to the $24.00 annual vehicle registration fee increase and it totals an additional $78.48 per year. For a fixed income person like myself, that is no small increase. It is also being levied on items that are necessities for me. As a disabled elderly person, I must have the occasional use of my vehicle as I cannot manage either public transportation or heaven forbid, a bicycle option. And, we all need our water and sewer facilities so it is not as though every one of us can just give up these things as though they are luxury or non essential taxes. While our city and county leaders are very concerned about helping out our illegal aliens, they have no consideration for the status of us old retired fixed income people who have worked and paid taxes our entire working lives. Now that we need some consideration, we are forgotten by our "leaders" and can just fend for ourselves as we are being taxed out of Portland to make room for child bearing families given "affordable housing" and wealthy out of staters who can afford the high taxes.
(email verified)
Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 01:54 AM
As a California resident I pay $280 EVERY YEAR to register my car. Quit whining.
(email verified)
Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 01:54 AM
Good deal now we will have unregistered cars on the roads, nice goin.
(email verified)
Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 01:59 AM
"As a California resident I pay $280 EVERY YEAR to register my car. Quit whining."
Then as a CA resident. sdbeav24, this does not concern you so your opinion is irrelevant.
(email verified)
Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 02:23 AM
Your Comment Proves the Point of Going into Iraq.
As you State He did nothing Prior to WTC Attack???
If Saddam had attacked us you would have said what???
He did nothing!!
You Can't have it Both Ways Bub..
Also lets not Forget what Billary Didn't Do as Stated Above.
(email verified)
Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 03:13 AM
Agree with the above poster.
I guess it was only a matter of time before some nutjob had to drag the war into this conversation.
This is a blog about Trimet and fuel.
(email verified)
Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 04:29 AM
lets cut some of the dam bloated govt like 50%of the overpaid managers,cuts salaries,benefits and pers for the govt class.let the fat govt class for once feel the pinch on something before the private sector is ever again asked for one more dam dime.we pay enough now for everything like schools,roads,cops and etc.the money never gets to where they say it will.wonder where all that i-tax money went.the govt needs to cut spending like the private sector has had to and stop their childish whinig about how broke they are and stop giving raises always to the govt class at the same time.enoughs enough.
(email verified)
Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 06:57 AM
"Agree with the above poster." Tha is unfortunate because he is pretty well off the mark.
"I guess it was only a matter of time before some nutjob had to drag the war into this conversation." The 'matter of time' around PDX is usually fairly short as BDS is apparently a pandemic in Li'l Beirut on teh Willamette.
"give the Bush Administration a pass on the spending in Iraq and the Pentagon as a whole." Notice which side of the political spectrum your perfectly described "nutjob" resides on.
Very telling.
(email verified)
Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 07:23 AM
"An analysis of tolling the Sellwood Bridge found that so many drivers would divert to a nearby bridge (such as the Ross Island Bridge) to avoid the toll that there would not be enough toll revenue to pay for the Sellwood Bridge."
I'll bet ya that is the gods honest truth!
(email verified)
Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 07:25 AM
I'd rather they build a bridge across the columbia from troutdale to camas. I'd get far more use out of that.
Or better yet, Gresham, Troutdale, Wood Village and Fairview should all break off from Multnomah County and start their own county. It seems Multnomah County only pertains to Portland when it comes to funds.
(email verified)
Fri, Jan 25, 2008 at 07:26 AM
The galling part of this is that it's $24/year for a few select projects, even if you don't use it.
I live in far Southwest Portland (near the Tigard/Lake Oswego boundary) and have little to no use for the Sellwood Bridge (I might cross it once a month on a voluntary trip that I could easily avoid). But I am being asked to pay a high tax - where is the benefit to me - my street lacks bike lanes and sidewalks and has safety problems; my bus stop requires me to cross five lanes of a high speed road (Barbur Blvd.) without a crosswalk anywhere nearby...?
There is nothing that says that Multnomah County can't enact a toll on this bridge - let's look at "locally" owned, tolled facilities in Oregon:
1. Bridge of the Gods (Port of Cascade Locks)
2. Hood River Bridge (Port of Hood River)
3. Canby Ferry (Clackamas County)
4. Wheatland Ferry (Marion and Yamhill Counties)
5. Buena Vista Ferry (Marion County)
So tolling the bridge is not only fair but it's legal as well.
I do agree that if bikes want their bike path they need to pay - there is no reason that the Sellwood Bridge needs to be anything but a bridge with two 14 foot travel lanes and one six foot multi-use pedestrian/bike path, OR two 14 foot travel lanes, two three foot bike lanes, and one four foot pedestrian sidewalk.
Anything more and bicyclists need to step up to the plate on raising money as well. So that rules out the $24 vehicle surcharge unless Multnomah County ALSO assesses a $15/year bicycle registration fee.
(email verified)
Sat, Jan 26, 2008 at 12:35 AM
Let's convert the Sellwood to the pedestrian/bike only bridge that Sam wants to put closer into Portland. By removing the load bearing vehicles from the Sellwood bridge, it would need very little improvement. The Ross Island, recently rebuilt, can now accommodate the truck/motor vehicle traffic and the Hawthorne bridge already has bike paths and pedestrian walkways. Problems solved!
PS to "sdbeav24" from California...you are one of those rich Californians that "Will their money hunger ever end?" is referring to...if California is so great, then stay there. There's too many of you coming up here already, inflating prices throughout the state.
(email verified)
Sat, Jan 26, 2008 at 02:58 AM
None of this complaining solves the problem of ongoing maintenance on Multnomah County owned bridges. It is our counties responsibility to keep our bridges safe and open. Multnomah County obviously has made to many commitments and needs to come up with a workable business model that includes ongoing maintenance on its assets and infrastructure first.
(email verified)
Sat, Jan 26, 2008 at 04:01 AM
chris in oregon the democrat party you love is the problem and the ones spending the money poorly not president bush or republicans.bush had no say in them spending money on trolleys,trams and the other goodies garbage they love.let the fatcat govt class give up quite a bit before the public is ever again asked for one more dam dime.lets see the govt significantly cut too.sorry i am not off base either unlike you and you liberal views.they only tell you their general funds numbers not the all funds which are always much higher.the govt could be cut 50% and it wouldnt hurt the public one darn bit.
(email verified)
Sat, Jan 26, 2008 at 06:56 AM
"let the fatcat govt class give up quite a bit before the public is ever again asked for one more dam dime."
I don't recall anyone proposing any new dams, Matthew.
(email verified)
Sun, Jan 27, 2008 at 03:11 AM
And Bush, and the republicans, and Big Business, and Whaa
What excuse will you have if a democrat is in Office???
(email verified)
Sun, Jan 27, 2008 at 03:53 AM
Whaa, Whaa - What do you want to bet, their excuse will be the Republicans and/or Global Warming?
(email verified)
Sun, Jan 27, 2008 at 01:52 PM
"matthew vantress" - give it a rest, you did not even read the article; you are just trolling the posts on this thread in order to comment about stuff you cannot even make sense of...
(email verified)
Sun, Jan 27, 2008 at 02:10 PM
To Matthew Vantress, remember what the article was about and stay focused. I would love you to expain someday and use facts that show how Government can cut 50% and not affect services. I have seen you ramble on about other articles with no facts or proof. Check a governmental budget sometime. They are required by law to list all funds not just general funds. Try reading or getting involved in Government instead of listening to Fox news.
(email verified)
Mon, Jan 28, 2008 at 12:43 AM
Before we are quick to tune to WIFM (What’s in it for me) we should remember we all live together and believe it or not we need each other. I would encourage you to check out the following study done for the Portland Region, “The Cost of Congestion to the Economy of the Portland Region”
http://www.metro-region.org/index.cfm/go/by.web/id/16673
This study said, “The region’s economy is transportation-dependent. Increasing congestion -- even with currently planned improvements -- will significantly impact the region’s ability to maintain and grow business, as well as our quality of life.”
So for those who say well I do not drive it so why should I pay for it? The study show how you are affected.
The study says, “Being a trade hub, Portland's competitiveness is largely dependent on efficient transportation, and congestion threatens the region’s economic vitality. Failure to invest adequately in transportation improvements will result in a potential loss valued at of $844 million annually by 2025 – that’s $782 per household -- and 6,500 jobs. It equates to 118,000 hours of vehicle travel per day – that’s 28 hours of travel time per household annually.”
So now are you sure that you are not affected. The economy of the region sure is and I am sure many of you have a job that is dependant on that economy. These are closer to facts Matthew Vantress and the real world most of us live in.
(email verified)
Mon, Jan 28, 2008 at 01:04 AM
john i did read the article unlike you sir and know my opinions.govt can cut 50% of managers sir and cut salaries 10%.how about 50% cut in pers money too>it wont hurt govt services and the govt clas one darn bit to get alittle les pension money kim stead.kim why dont you donate some of you salary and bloated pers money to the govt since you can afford to and you feel they need it so bad.most of us kim are taxed out and can barely afford to survive now compared to the fatcat govt class.when is the last time any of you public employees sacrificed salary and pers for the publics good?that pers money remember could go to others like police fire schools and etc remember that.kim i have called and e mailed govt officials and they dont call or e mail you back.they dont listen to the average person unless you are a public employee union member with a fat pers pension and a high paid union lobbyist thats a fact.their is plenty john and kim that the govt could cut.quit giving raises all the time to public employees when at the same time the public is lied to about how broke you really are.kim i dont buy any govt stats and etc.they lie and the govt is rarely ever honest on finances.how many times does the oregonian or portland tribune ever tell schools and govts all funds budget numbers in any of their articles or editorials.never.you only get general funds stats.what govt services does everyone need so much kim?please tell me what they are because i dont see a high demand for more govt welfare.
(email verified)
Mon, Jan 28, 2008 at 06:47 AM
It's called a spacebar Matthew. Look into it.
(email verified)
Mon, Jan 28, 2008 at 08:10 AM
Sorry to get off the subject but I need to answer Matthew. So what do these “fat cat” government scums make compared to the private sector. My facts are based on 2005 data from the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics and not my twisted views.
President Bush earns a salary of $400,000 plus a $50,000 nontaxable expense allowance. By contrast, the average Standard & Poor's 500 company CEO took home $11.75 million in 2005.
Attorney
Government average: $105,577
Nationwide average: $110,520
Financial Manager
Government average: $95,257
Nationwide average: $96,620
Human Resources Manager
Government average: $71,232
Nationwide average: $89,950
Nurse
Government average: $60,935
Nationwide average: $56,880
Salary.com also shows high level governmental management positions pay well below those in the private sector. For example, the county administrator's job, which compares to that of a chief operating officer, pays $208,707, while Salary.com says that position averages $405,102 in the private sector.
Similarly, the Salem Statesman-Journal posts Oregon State Government salaries. The highest-paid official on any of the lists is the superintendent and chief medical officer of Oregon State Hospital, at $167,529 annually. Dr. Bruce Goldberg, who as director of the Department of Human Services heads the largest state agency, is paid $126,228.
Is 126k too much, well it is more than I make but a lot of people make more than me. To call someone who you have no idea what they do a "Fatcat", that is just ignorant.
Matthew, I do not work for government but I do give some of my salary to them in the form of taxes to have a road to drive on, a safe bridge to cross, and God hate me but a safe sidewalk for our kids to walk on.
You say you read the article but the article states, "The money would be earmarked to replace the Sellwood Bridge and make other improvements to the county's six Willamette River bridges." Yet you think it is going to salaries and PERS for rich government employees.
You state, "the govt could be cut 50% and it wouldn't hurt the public one darn bit" yet you fail to say how to make those cuts except in salary and PERS. This will not make the 50%.
Remember the headline, "Emergency workers patrol the area around the collapsed wreckage of the I-35W bridge August 3, 2007 in Minneapolis, Minnesota." I would hate that to be the Sellwood. It needs fixed so how do we fix it, not how do we fix government?
(email verified)
Mon, Jan 28, 2008 at 08:49 AM
I see Vantress & the wingnuts are out in force. Maybe if he wrote better he could get a fat government job.
ORS prohibits tolls on Multnomah Co. bridges look it up
It has to go to a vote under stare law. Look it up.
What are these County pet projects? Try maintaining anything with no raise in 15 years.
My house hasn't burned down, why should I have to pay for a fire department? I don't drive down Vantress' or Tiffany's street (I don't think so); why should I pay to pave it?
$24/year, $48/2 years, or $2/month is a fair price to pay to keep people moving in Portland. (but I do widh the Clackistanis would pay too)
(email verified)
Mon, Jan 28, 2008 at 02:12 PM
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Re: County settles on car registration price tag
These should be toll bridges. Why tax drivers who don't use them?
"Tiffany Barnswell"
(email verified)
Thu, Jan 24, 2008 at 04:08 AM