Pendleton gas tax repeal (2009)
From Ballotpedia
A Pendleton gas tax repeal will appear on the May 19, 2009 city-wide ballot in Pendleton, Oregon if supporters of the repeal are able to collect enough signatures to refer the city's new 4-cent fuel tax to the ballot for possible repeal by the city's voters using the veto referendum process.[1]
The Pendleton City Council unanimously passed the 4-cent-a-gallon fuel tax in early December 2008.
Rex Morehouse is leading the effort to repeal the tax and has filed paperwork for a group called "Let Pendleton Vote" to support his efforts.
The 4-cent/gallon tax is intended to raise about $500,000 a year to pay off a $3.6 million loan the city intends to take out with the Oregon Department of Transportation to complete the Airport/Barnhart Road project.
Opponents collected 1,532 signatures by the December 31 deadline; of these, 905 were deemed to be valid, while about 750 were required. will likely be on the ballot for the May 19 special election.[2]
Details
- The city was going to start collecting the tax Feb. 1, 2009. If enough signatures are collected to put the question on the ballot, the tax will not go into effect at least until the vote is held.
- Gas stations throughout the city started collecting signatures in December.
- Signatures are needed from 10% of registered voters in the city to qualify the measure for the ballot.
- If it qualifies, it will be on the May 19, 2009 ballot.
- The Oregon Petroleum Association supports the repeal.
References
- ↑ East Oregonian, "Fuel tax signature gathering begins", December 19, 2008
- ↑ East Oregonian, "Fuel tax vote drive draws 905 signatures", January 15, 2009
