Benton County voters approve a new property tax levy by a slim margin.
(SALEM, Ore. ) - Oregon voters have overwhelmingly defeated Measure 50, the "Healthy Kids" plan, which would have create an children's health insurance fund that would have been paid for with an increase in cigarette taxes. With 64 percent of the statewide vote counted, Measure 50 was being rejected by a margin of 60 percent to 40 percent.
"What happened was, the tobacco industry bought the election," Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski said in an interview Tuesday night with The Associated Press. Cigarette makers fought Measure 50 with a $12 million ad blitz. The Governor declared that "this fight isn't over," and said he and legislative leaders would be looking at other ways to get more children covered.
Voters have approved Measure 49, referred to the voters by the Legislature, which is an amended version of Measure 37, that would roll back the 2004 property rights law. Measure 49 was passing with 61 percent in favor after 67 percent of the projected vote was counted.
Benton County voters have approved a new county levy by a very slim margin.
Just 194 votes determined the outcome of 02-64.
The levy will cost 90 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.
Residents are currently paying 26 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for the jail bed levy. The additional 64 cents per $1,000 would go to restore services that have been lost or reduced.
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The Board of Commissioners could restore the following services with the five-year, $29 million property tax levy:24-hour Sheriff’s patrol.School resource deputies.Juvenile Counseling and outreach.Early intervention programs for at-risk children for abuse, chemical dependency, delinquency and school failure.Prosecution of additional street crime and child abuse cases.Beds for housing juveniles at the youth corrections center.Drug and alcohol treatment for juvenile and adult drug court offenders.Space to house inmates convicted of crimes in Benton County.
Voters in Scio approved a 4.78-annexation request. The vote was 83-59 in favor.
Oregon Voters Reject Cigarette Tax; Approve Land Use MeasureSalem-News.com