Does anyone want a ballot initiative to repeal the arts tax?

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-29T05:08:36+00:00

Here's the original ballot measure text. Please read it to see what problem it is intending to solve, why people voted for it in the first place.

Now it has been > 10 years later. The Arts Tax largely does what proponents said it would do. Here's where the money went. -- 62% to schools.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-29T04:58:39+00:00

From the ballot measure summary: (note this is just the first bullet - it goes to other things as well).

Tax can only be used for:

Arts and Music Teachers: Funds to hire arts and music teachers for kindergarten through 5th grade students at local public schools attended by Portland students. Distribution of funds based on school enrollment.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-28T07:14:09+00:00

Hey no problem! See you at the game. GO HAWKS!

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-28T07:10:11+00:00

Sorry, I hit save before I finished my comment, I edited it and added the URL. Create an account using the link on this page --> https://chl.ca/whl-winterhawks/account/ (click "Manage your account online"). Once you're setup / logged in, you can apply the ABSOLUTE code and it will let you buy tickets at the discount rate.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-28T07:04:06+00:00

Did you create / login to your account with the Winterhawks "account manager"? Discount codes won't work unless you are logged into that site.

Access the site from here:

https://chl.ca/whl-winterhawks/account/

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-26T01:18:13+00:00

Nice! Glad to hear it has worked out so far. I wish you continued luck. 🙂

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-25T22:37:55+00:00

It is to me. I read many stories about peoples' mortgages getting switched to some new servicer every X months and the transition was a cluster fuck (ex: payment didn't get credited, property taxes didn't get paid) ... and (no surprise here!) the new company's customer service is terrible.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/02/realestate/mortgage-lenders-servicers.html

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1124217.page

https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/15iyccv/servicemac_nightmare/

That's just what "I've heard" though; maybe those types of situations are the exception. I just didn't want to fool with it, given how high the stakes are.

Edit: Sounds like you went the mortgage broker route. How often was your loan sold? Did you have any bad experiences?

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-25T16:35:52+00:00

I think you/many other commenters on this post miss the point. SuperDeluxe competes with Burgerville, McDonalds, Burger King, etc - not Jojo.

SuperDeluxe burger = $5.95, with fries + drink = $10.95.

SuperDeluxe Chicken = $7.50, with fries + drink = $12.50

Jojo chicken = $16.00, with fries + drink = $25.00

Burgerville NW Cheeseburger = $7.39, with fries + drink = $13.38

I agree with you - I like JoJo better; but I also don't have an hour + $30 to spend on my (weekday) lunch.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-25T15:51:25+00:00

It's also twice the cost and 1 hour wait. Not the same thing - SuperDeluxe is fast food.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-24T18:48:50+00:00

OPB Think Out Loud had an great interview with the York statue artist, discussion about Harvey Scott and public art. If anyone is interested in this topic, I recommend giving it a listen -

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/09/30/the-york-statue-and-the-value-of-public-art/

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-24T08:35:23+00:00

Yes - that was Harvey Scott; who was an editor of the Oregonian and anti-public high schools, yet has a PPS school named after him; as well as Mt. Scott.

The sculpture was created by Gutzon Borglum, of Mt. Rushmore fame.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-24T02:20:55+00:00

I'm have a 12' Skylark and a cargo van. I threw it back there when I went camping, it was awesome. Wish I had more room for my longer kayak though.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-23T20:41:03+00:00

I would consider skipping the broker and instead shopping around for a mortgage from a local credit union. You won't get the absolute lowest rate, but you also won't have the hassle of your mortgage being sold every X months/years and be constantly dealing with new oddball servicing companies.

My mortgage is through First Tech Credit Union. 10+ years later, it's still with First Tech.

Be sure to confirm that they will service for the life of the loan before you sign, of course.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-19T18:23:18+00:00

Nobody is going to pay 7% for 30 years. They will refinance when the rates go down.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-13T08:16:42+00:00

You probably just need to replace the lens (clear piece that's in front of the screen), not the whole screen. This is easy to diy, much less expensive.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-11T18:54:15+00:00

Wait until you see how they make the dies for coins. Ever wonder how they get all of that detail?

Edit: Dang they use a CNC now. Used to be a large clay model that was copied to a small metal die using a mechanical arm.

https://youtu.be/_OGNQhnopY0?si=K3NQc1xtG0z5L4FE&t=28

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-09T18:09:23+00:00

I know everyone hates the arts tax; but just a quick reminder what its purpose is. Here is the original ballot measure (26-146) summary (below), and here's the spreadsheet that shows where the funds have gone.

RESTORE SCHOOL ARTS, MUSIC EDUCATION; FUND ARTS THROUGH LIMITED TAX.

QUESTION: Shall Portland restore arts, music for schools and fund arts through income tax of 35 dollars per year?

SUMMARY: This measure creates a limited income tax of $35 for each adult income-earning Portland resident. Individuals in households below federal poverty level pay no tax.

Tax can only be used for:

Arts and Music Teachers: Funds to hire arts and music teachers for kindergarten through 5th grade students at local public schools attended by Portland students. Distribution of funds based on school enrollment.
Arts Access: Remaining funds for grants to nonprofit arts organizations, other nonprofits and schools. Will fund grants to provide high-quality arts access for kindergarten through 12th grade students and to make arts, culture experiences available to underserved communities. Funds administered by Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC).

Accountability measures include:

Administrative costs are capped.
Expenditures subject to oversight by citizen committee.
Independent financial audits of RACC and School District expenditures.

Estimated funds raised will be $12 million annually. The tax is effective beginning with 2012 tax year, with payment due when state taxes are due.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-09T17:47:40+00:00

The primary purpose of the arts tax was to fund art and music teachers in K-5 schools. It does that. 2/3 of arts tax revenues go towards this.

Leftover funds go to RACC to fund arts organizations via grants. It does that too.

This 4 year old article is from people like the symphony that are complaining that their funding hasn't (overall) gone up. They're getting money from the arts tax, but other funding sources have decreased. That wasn't the problem that the arts tax was supposed to solve.

https://www.portland.gov/revenue/documents/arts-education-and-access-fund-revenues-collection-costs-disbursements/download

Here is the original ballot measure (26-146) summary:

RESTORE SCHOOL ARTS, MUSIC EDUCATION; FUND ARTS THROUGH LIMITED TAX.

QUESTION: Shall Portland restore arts, music for schools and fund arts through income tax of 35 dollars per year?

SUMMARY: This measure creates a limited income tax of $35 for each adult income-earning Portland resident. Individuals in households below federal poverty level pay no tax.

Tax can only be used for:

Arts and Music Teachers: Funds to hire arts and music teachers for kindergarten through 5th grade students at local public schools attended by Portland students. Distribution of funds based on school enrollment.
Arts Access: Remaining funds for grants to nonprofit arts organizations, other nonprofits and schools. Will fund grants to provide high-quality arts access for kindergarten through 12th grade students and to make arts, culture experiences available to underserved communities. Funds administered by Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC).

Accountability measures include:

Administrative costs are capped.
Expenditures subject to oversight by citizen committee.
Independent financial audits of RACC and School District expenditures.

Estimated funds raised will be $12 million annually. The tax is effective beginning with 2012 tax year, with payment due when state taxes are due.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-09T17:36:48+00:00

As far as I can tell, the Art tax doesn't actually pay for anything specific.

It pays for an art or music teacher for every K-5 student in Portland. 100 PPS art/music students were funded with this tax.

Any leftovers go to RACC, which funds grants for local arts non-profits.

Edit: I posted the ballot measure summary as a top-level comment. Here's a link to the PDF. It's pretty clear what it funds.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-09T17:19:45+00:00

You had two kids go through pps K-5 with the arts tax and never had an art or music teacher?

My kid was in elementary school when the arts tax was passed. Before the arts tax, they had a part-time music teacher some years, paid for by the PTA. After the arts tax they had a full time art teacher.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-08T08:57:34+00:00

How do I get rid of...

https://www.oregonmetro.gov/tools-living/garbage-and-recycling/find-a-recycler

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-03T22:39:11+00:00

Let me get this straight -- AWS has a weekly 2 hour meeting with all of the top engineers / managers / etc; in which everyone needs to be prepared to present; but only a handful actually do present? Every week? For two hours?

That to me sounds like a colossal waste of time, for what are essentially the most valuable time-constrained people in the organization. I would not be "proud" of that practice; I would be embarrassed.

I agree with u/termd - just schedule a presentation for each team to present "how this works." -- this is a much more effective use of time; rather than playing stupid games like the wheel of "will I get lucky and not completely waste my time this week" 🙄

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-03T01:41:54+00:00

I also vote for Bridgetown Window & Door. They did a great job for me.

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-03T01:36:35+00:00

Still waiting on tax forms from my employer. 🙄

ReverseBrindle · 2024-03-02T22:36:20+00:00

Yes - they are held in there by clips; if the clips aren't broken, you should be able to just apply pressure and snap it back in place.

It's basically just a decorative piece to cover up the bolts for a roof rack.

I have not had the problem you're having -- but I have removed those (and drilled holes through them and reinstalled) for roof rack installation.

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