Posted: Thursday, October 25, 2007 12:00 am
"It's a wolf in sheep's clothing!" That's the statement in ads that advocate a no vote on Measure 49.
However, they've got it all wrong. It was Measure 37 that was the "wolf in sheep's clothing" because it did not indicate that its passage would for all practical purposes negate Oregon's land-use laws. Those land-use laws, which date back to 1969 and 1973, have repeatedly been upheld by Oregon voters in elections prior to passage of Measure 37.
Oregon owners of farm and forest land have benefited by the generous tax deferral provisions provided in SB 101, which was passed at the same time that the Legislature approved SB 100. Keep in mind that it was a Republican governor (Tom McCall) and a Republican senator (Hector Macpherson) who were the driving force behind those land- use laws.
In recent years, when I have traveled to other states, I have been impressed by the difference: scattered houses outside urban areas, often built on good farm soils. By consolidating housing development in urban areas, Oregon's land-use planning also a beneficial factor in reducing greenhouse gases.
Please protect Oregon, the home we love. Vote yes on Ballot Measure 49 to continue good land-use planning.
Lois Kenagy
North Albany
Tax rate increase decided levy issue
I just received my 2007-08 property tax statement. My property tax bill increased by 10 percent over last year's property taxes - well above the inflation rate and well above the 0 percent increase in my annual income.
The same day, I received my November ballot listing a county property tax measure (02-64) for $4.445 million. The information indicates that, if the measure is improved, my taxes will increase by 90 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or about 5 percent.
I was curious as to how taxes have increased over the past five years and where the money was going. A quick check of my property tax bills indicates that in the last 5 years, my taxes for support of schools have increased 54.4 percent for an average increase of almost 11 percent per year. My taxes to the city have increased by 13.9 percent for an average increase of 2.8 percent per year. My county taxes have increased only 2 percent over the last 5 years or an average increase of only 0.4 percent per year.
The city and school agencies seem to be getting sizable increases in revenue to support their services. I have read the literature and believe the services to be funded by the county levy are important to the citizens of Benton County. I don't like taxes (or fee increases) any better than anyone else, but I think this measure deserves our approval.
Rolland Baxter
Corvallis
Don't count out timber in Philomath
I read with interest the Oct. 20 article "Timber town on new path," which sounds the death knell of timber in Philomath and introduces the new king.
Certainly, Philomath only has a fraction of the number of wood-processing facilities as once it did, but just a little research would show that multiple millions of dollars' worth of timber are being harvested each year, non-stop, whereas the wine industry is a mere infant in comparison.
Furthermore, the "tons" of pinot noir grapes moving down the highways pale in comparison to the fleets of log trucks seen every workday. I certainly welcome the vintners to the community and enjoy their products, but let's not get carried away.
One also should note that besides the two sawmills operating in Philomath, there are numerous other related businesses. We produce "green" building blocks, chips and bark mulch, and the Thompson Sortyard is a regional hub for logs that are sorted, graded, scaled and bar-coded prior to being shipped by truck and rail to eager buyers. If you don't believe me, ask your Benton County Commissioners. Timber harvesting and processing are doing just fine, thank you.
Paul Mortenson
Philomath
Letter an insult to those in minority
Gordon Shadle wrote a satiric letter Oct. 22 against those who are "exploited minorities" who "claim victimhood," and he suggested that he now is a minority because of his political stance (in support of the war in Iraq). Because of this, he avers that he "can now rationalize my irrelevance, be a merchant of discouragement, and a justifier of self pity."
This is insulting to all of those minorities who actually are exploited, including those who are Hispanic/Latino in appearance and who are stopped by traffic cops because of that appearance; those who are of Arabic appearance and who are routinely pulled out of line - along with their families - and searched at the airport; those women in our society who are paid less for doing more than their male counterparts and those who have been fired from jobs, evicted from their homes or kicked out of a restaurant because they are gay, lesbian or transgender and who won't hold hands in this very community because of fear of reprisals.
I understand the concept of satire, but being marginalized by Mr. Shadle is tantamount to kicking dirt in the face of those who have been beaten down. I'm afraid that when someone makes fun of and belittles communities that have, historically, been discriminated against. I fail to see the humor. I will agree with Mr. Shadle's last statement, however: "I am angry; hear me roar."
Tom Johnston
Corvallis