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I currently live in Vancouver WA, in which plan to relocate to the Washington County or possibly Clackamas County. Everyone from this side of the river tell me "oh no you going to hav to pay a lot more in taxes". What are they talking about if already employed in Oregon. Are property taxes that much more? Or is everything in general taxes higher in Oregon?
For a given level of services fees/taxes must be collected. "Back in the day" Vancouverites paid less in property taxes than Portlanders but that isn't, generally, the case any more because Clark County now has to provide urban services such as storm water, drinking water, sewerage... streets had to be improved. Clark County used to be somewhat rural. Clark County residents still want all the services without paying for them... replace the bridge but no toll, Oregon should widen I-5 through Portland but not extend light rail which would reduce the pressure on I-5. Portland, and Oregon, are now taking the position that they will no longer eat out of our lunch bucket.
Remember that state income taxes are deductible on you Fed tax return. Frankly if you were to add up all sales taxes, property taxes and fees paid it would be a wash.
I currently live in Vancouver WA, in which plan to relocate to the Washington County or possibly Clackamas County. Everyone from this side of the river tell me "oh no you going to hav to pay a lot more in taxes". What are they talking about if already employed in Oregon. Are property taxes that much more? Or is everything in general taxes higher in Oregon?
Property taxes are somewhat higher in Oregon, but otherwise those people believe one of the following:
1. They are assuming you pay no Oregon state income taxes but you buy all of your stuff in Oregon; or
2. They just assume that the overall tax burden is significantly higher in Oregon (which it isn't, for most people).
The pro-business folks who complain of Oregon taxes are focused on personal income tax, they overlook Washington's Business & Occupation tax which is based on a business' gross sales, not profit. Oregon taxes business based on profits. There is a reason why most business activity on Portland metro is on the Oregon side.
Income tax is not all THAT high in Oregon. I think the right-wing, pro-business crowd tends to inflate the tax situation in Oregon.
Well it is a fact that more growth overall during the past decade came from states with no income tax. But for the typical taxpayer, the difference between Oregon and Washington is probably negligible.
The spotted owl issue put Oregon's resource economy on the skids. It appears that the spotted owl is dying off not because of the loss of old growth timber but by the encroachment of another species of owl from the east, the barred owl, and another encroachment from the east - sudden oak disease.
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