ADVOCACY

Get to know your City Council Candidates!

The Corvallis Chamber of Commerce lists Education as one of its 3 strategic initiatives. Guided by this focus, the Chamber contacted Corvallis City Council candidates in contested wards and asked them to respond to 8 questions. Those questions are below, followed by the candidates’ responses. We hope this helps inform our members as they strive to cast wise votes.

Past Chamber Outreach

As you are likely aware, your November ballots will feature Measure 97, a 2.5% tax on C-Corporations making $25 million in sales that would be the largest tax increase in Oregon history. What you may not be aware of is that after much research and discussion, the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted to join the growing coalition of businesses, organizations and individuals opposing Measure 97. In encouraging you to do so as well, the Board would like to make clear the many reasons it feels that this measure is worthy of our active opposition:

• The measure taxes companies based on sales, regardless of whether those companies make a profit. Especially for businesses that operate on thin margins, depending on volume to turn a profit (i.e. grocery stores, gas stations), this will be especially damaging.
• The tax is regressive and layered. The State of Oregon’s nonpartisan Legislative Revenue Office (LRO) reported that not only would the majority of the cost be passed onto consumers, the largest burden would be felt by the low- and middle-income families. This is a result of Measure 97’s layering effect, meaning that the same goods will be taxed upon manufacturing, then again at distribution, and again at retail. The same product could be taxed 4 or 5 times before it ever reaches the consumer, with the heaviest burden at the end of the line. Companies will have no choice but to pass the tax on to the consumer There are no exemptions for basic commodities like food, clothing and electricity. Pacific Power, for example, estimates an increase of 3-4% in energy rates for consumers if the measure passes; the Corvallis Clinic estimates a nearly $2 million increase in taxes annually that will increase the cost of medical care for patients.
• LRO reports that the measure would cost 38,000 private sector jobs. This should be enough by itself to oppose the measure.
• The measure claims that it is raising taxes to support education, health care and senior services. The truth is, all of the $6 billion per biennium raised would go into the general fund with no requirement that those funds be used to solve the actual problems facing our school systems or small businesses.

Please consider taking action against such damaging policy. We also encourage you to attend the Lunch Forum we will host on Wednesday, October 5 at noon at the Corvallis Country Club. This will give us an opportunity for further exploration of the Measure 97 facts presented above.
​
Defeat the Tax on Oregon Sales is the coalition of businesses, taxpayers and organizations that are actively opposing the measure. We encourage you to visit the website to join the coalition, and follow the coalition on social media outlets (Facebook and Twitter).

Plastic Bag Ordinance

The Corvallis Chamber is working hard on providing business advocacy and outreach for our businesses and the community at large. Below are links to many different areas of interest. 

School Board Forum
Plastic Bag Ordinance 

Plastic Bag Ordinance