Taxation Passed General Election
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PEAPAC Recommends: NO

Easier to raise taxes; 1 Sam 8 warns of excessive tax; property tax is unbiblical tax on potential income.

Summary

Removes the double majority requirement (50% turnout) for property tax measures in May and November.

Biblical Reasoning

The consent of those taxed is essential to a proper and just tax… Taxation is the forced taking of someone’s private property for the purposes of the common good. Some taxation is, of course, necessary. But the Bible warns that excessive taxation results when we turn to civil leaders rather than God to provide for us (1 Sam. 8).

Additionally, God’s tax, the tithe, is only on one’s actual income. A property tax is not found in the Bible. It represents a tax on potential, not actualized income, and thus represents the worst form of taxation, Measure 56 would result in higher property taxes, and would give a small minority the right to raise these taxes on everyone else.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Bible places a very high priority on straight talk and honest speech. Jesus says in John 8:44 that the devil is a liar, and those who lie are his followers. When we speak deceitfully, we are speaking like the devil. When we speak truthfully, we are speaking like Jesus. Measure 49 began with deceit… Deception is one more reason to vote No on Measure 56.

1 Samuel 8 — “But the Bible warns that excessive taxation results when we turn to civil leaders rather than God to provide for us (1 Sam. 8).”
John 8:44 — “Jesus says in John 8:44 that the devil is a liar, and those who lie are his followers.”

Election Results

57%
43%
YesNo

Voters approved eliminating the double majority requirement for May/November elections (57% Yes).

Full PEAPAC Analysis

PEAPAC Explanation: The goal of Measure 56 is to raise your taxes. In 1996, Oregon voters approved what is known as a “double majority” law. Property tax measures can only become law when, in addition to majority support by whomever votes, a majority (at least 50 percent) actually turns out to vote on the proposed tax increase. Measure 56 would remove this double majority requirement, making it easier to raise taxes.

If Measure 56 passes, your taxes could be raised by a very small percentage of registered voters. It is not uncommon for voter turnout in some elections to be 30 percent or less. So, if Measure 56 passes, a mere 15 percent of registered voters can raise the taxes on 100 percent of the affected population.

The consent of those taxed is essential to a proper and just tax. Our current double majority law is a way to ensure that property taxes are not raised without a true consent of the majority of those being taxed. Taxation is the forced taking of someone’s private property for the purposes of the common good. Some taxation is, of course, necessary. But the Bible warns that excessive taxation results when we turn to civil leaders rather than God to provide for us (1 Sam. 8). In the last century, Americans have asked more and more from their government and the result has been very high tax rates. Additionally, God’s tax, the tithe, is only on one’s actual income. A property tax is not found in the Bible. It represents a tax on potential, not actualized income, and thus represents the worst form of taxation, Measure 56 would result in higher property taxes, and would give a small minority the right to raise these taxes on everyone else.

Deception is one more reason to vote No on Measure 56. The Legislature which wants this Measure passed also passed a bill mandating its ballot title. This was a high-handed and deceptive end run around the process of a neutral party (the Attorney General) writing ballot titles, which are then subject to legal review. The Legislature should play by the same rules the rest of us must follow. We strongly oppose Measure 56, and urge your No vote.

Related Measures

Measure 47 (1996) — Referenced as the ‘double majority law’ passed in 1996 (actually Measure 47/50 era) View →

← PreviousMeasure 55 (2008)