Thursday, June 21, 2007

it's a tax increase! No, it's a fee increase! Like there's a difference?

Statesman Journal--

House Bill 3551 approved by the Ways and Means subcommittee on transportation and economic development approved a $15 increase in the "fees" to record real estate and other documents at county courthouses across the state.

The new “tax” is designed to reduce homelessness and stem Oregon's housing affordability crisis.
" "We're very excited," said Eugene legal aid attorney John VanLandingham, a longtime advocate for low-income housing. Advocates have sought such a permanent funding source for 17 years, VanLandingham said. "

The plan hit a snag when legislative attorneys ruled that it was a ruled it was a tax increase, not a fee increase, which requires a 60% super majority to pass.

The original package was designed to raise $30 million a year based on an inflated estimate for the number of documents ever recorded each year.

The final package was changed to direct some funds to minority homebuying program.

let me see if I understand this correctly...
a fee is not a tax, and a tax is not a fee, however they both add to the cost.

And raising fees/taxes to buy a house makes houses more affordable?

"It's a floor wax! It's a dessert topping! You're both right!{SNL}--

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

OK, so how does this help homelessness? As it is, people are losing their homes because they aren't making enough money to survive. Add another tax and you get MORE homeless people. And why in the world does it go to MINORITY home loans? Minorities are NOT the only homeless people. Minorities already get the benefit of being considered first in almost everything. Being homeless has nothing to do with ethnic or racial status, it has to do with money. Our public servants (politicians) need to go back to school to learn other methods to balance budgets with services. Either that or we need a new batch of politicians. What a bunch of crackheads!

Anonymous said...

Somehow I think this will benefit the illegals....it always does.