Please offer some advice for our relocation

[RodFarlee]

Originally Posted by Cornerguy1

A couple of different posters have noted the difference between the Oregon income tax rate (9%) and the ever-popular 0% in Washington.

Does Washington have a state sales tax, and, if so, at what rate?

Sales tax applies to purchases made with so-called after tax dollars and, as there are no minimums or deductions to hide behind, I wonder what the bottom line would be when comparing 0% income tax in Washington against 0% sales tax in Oregon?...

WA state sales tax is 8.4% (with small local variations), OR 0%.

WA tax system is the most regressive (takes the largest percentage from low income households) of any in the US, while OR is relatively progressive (takes less from low income households).

On how well that has worked out, the Oregon Progress Board answers the question "How does OR compare to WA" with "not favorably".
http://www.oregon.gov/DAS/OPB/2005re...regon_Compares

If you click their 2005 Competitive Index link, you'll get pages of tables comparing OR and WA incomes, unemployment, cost of living, job growth, poverty, and the things those taxes pay for (education, crime, etc) and can see in detail why they reached that overall conclusion.

Part of the problem is that the OR state tax revenue is erratic from year to year, because it lacks the more stable sales tax base. This repeatedly squeezes the state budget. But the bigger problem is that the WA tax system apparently encourages employers, while the OR income tax apparently discourages them. For whatever reason, OR has lagged WA for decades now, and the major difference between them is their tax systems.

(In Canadian terms, OR vs WA is analogous to BC vs AB, and you know that debate well, I suppose!)

[REBroker]

Juneauite,
From an ex-Juneauite (1996-2000), Coastal Oregon gets a lot less rain than Juneau and we have had long dry summers since I moved here from Hilo, Hawaii 2 years ago. Hilo had sudden heavy warm rain. Juneau had constant bone-chilling rain. The year I left we had only 6 days of sun the whole year and we had to go warm up in Hawaii for 5 years. The Coos Bay Area is also very affordable compared to Juneau and it's a growing city, one of the largest on the Oregon Coast. I sold It stays temperate and mild most of the year.

[Cornerguy1]

For some very interesting stuff.

With the WA sales tax at 8.4% and the OR income tax rate at 9%, it looks as though, from an individual standpoint, OR would be a more favorable residence for those with lower taxable incomes while WA would be more appealing to the higher net income crowd.



(AB has enough oil to make an Arab sheik envious and that booming petroleum industry is filling the provincial coffers to over-flowing)

[juneauite]

Wow. Thanks for all the information, everyone. My head is spinning a bit! I think at this point the best thing to do is visit our top three choices and really try to imagine ourselves in each spot. And of course we have to figure out where the best job possibilities are as well. A lot to consider.

This has been great advice. Feel free to add more, and I'll keep checking back. I'll post again after we've decided! Thanks!