Gas prices in Forest Grove. File photo: Chas Hundley
SALEM - Oregons gas tax is about to increase again under legislation passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2017.Prices will rise 2 cents on January 1, 2020. The last increase of 4 cents came in 2018, and two cents will be added in both 2022 and 2024.
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The taxes were initiated to help pay for Oregons crumbling highway system, but many smaller cities and rural areas argue revenue from the gas tax is not being distributed evenly, mostly going to projects in and around the Portland metro area.However, counties and cities will receive 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively, of each two-cent increase in the coming years, including 2020.The legislation, HB 2017, raised money through a tax on motor fuels, but also through increases to vehicle title and registration fees, weight-mile taxes on heavy trucks, a .5 percent privilege tax on new vehicle purchases, a .1 percent payroll tax, called a transit tax, and a $15 tax on purchases of new bicycles costing $200 or more.A detailed report by the Oregon Transportation Commission submitted to the Joint Committee on Transportation on Dec. 1 that details how and where tax money will be used is available on the Oregon Department of Transportation website.
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The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley
The Oregon Legislatures 2022 short session came and went (did you blink?) and in this era of rapid inflation and
File photo of a bee
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The Tillamook and Washington County lines at the Coast Range summit on Highway 6 on January 27, 2022. Photo: Chas Hundley
Is change on the way for Oregon's
The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley
Rep. Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis), Oregons first new Speaker of the House since 2013, told OPB the 2022 legislative short session
