House committee opens hearings on four bills to create task forces studying Measures 5 and 50

The House Committee on Revenue opened public hearings Jan. 30 on four related bills that would create task forces to study the impacts of Oregon ballot Measures 5 and 50.

The measures, passed in the 1990s, capped property tax growth and remain a central constraint on local revenue. Chris (staff member) told the committee the bills are “largely the same” and would create task forces with differing focuses: historically disadvantaged communities, local governments, the cost of public higher education and small versus large taxing jurisdictions.

Representative Paul Evans, House District 20, urged the committee to examine not only revenue shortfalls but the real-world effects on services and opportunities. “My goal in this task force approach is not to get a group together to look for new taxes,” Representative Paul Evans said. “Instead… look at what…