KRBN Internet News Talk Radio

17/01/2025

They are after the kicker again!!!

Oregon's tax burden is among the highest in the nation. According to a 2024 study by WalletHub, Oregon ranks 23rd in overall tax burden, with residents paying approximately 8.44% of their income toward state and local taxes.
CPA PRACTICE ADVISOR
This includes a top marginal individual income tax rate of 9.9%, placing Oregon among the states with the highest income tax rates.
TAX FOUNDATION

Despite the absence of a state sales tax, Oregon compensates with higher income and property taxes. The state's property tax burden is moderately competitive, though higher than neighboring states like California and Washington.
TAX FOUNDATION
Additionally, Oregon imposes a corporate income tax with rates up to 7.6% and a 0.57% gross receipts tax, contributing to its complex tax structure.

Given this substantial tax burden, many residents find it challenging to meet their financial obligations, including property tax payments. The "kicker" law, which refunds taxpayers when state revenue exceeds forecasts by at least 2%, provides much-needed relief. In the most recent cycle, the state returned surplus funds to taxpayers, yet still managed to increase its budget by over 20%.
TAX FOUNDATION

Eliminating the kicker would remove a critical safeguard that ensures taxpayers aren't overburdened, especially in a state where the tax load is already significant. Maintaining the kicker sends a clear message to politicians: fiscal responsibility and taxpayer relief should remain priorities.

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com Portland Democrat State Senator Lew Frederick has authored Senate Joint Resolution 15 (SJR 15) which would abolish the people' Kicker Income Tax Refunds. Voters put into the Constitution requiring over-collected surplus tax revenue to be re

14/01/2025

State wide property tax????? Hell No!!

Stop HJR 6 and HJR 8: Oregon Can’t Afford These Taxes!

Representative Paul Evans (D is back with two proposals—HJR 6 and HJR 8—that would create Oregon’s first-ever statewide property tax, adding even more financial pressure on homeowners and businesses.

What These Measures Mean for You

HJR 6 proposes a statewide property tax of $1 per $1,000 of home value to fund disaster resilience projects. For a $300,000 home, this means an additional $300 per year in taxes for the next 20 years.
HJR 8 proposes a lower statewide property tax but adds a tax on personal property, which includes business inventory. This would hit small businesses especially hard, potentially driving them out of Oregon.

Local Communities Already Fund Public Safety Cities like Eugene, Portland, Grants Pass, and Florence already have measures in place to fund public safety tailored to their needs:

Eugene: A Community Safety Payroll Tax funds local services.
Portland: A Heavy Vehicle Use Tax supports traffic safety.
Grants Pass: Uses grants, fees, and lodging taxes for public safety.
Florence: Funds safety through a public safety levy.
A one-size-fits-all statewide tax disregards these efforts and unfairly penalizes homeowners and businesses in areas already funding these services.

Why These Proposals Are a Bad Idea

Massive Financial Burden: Adds to already high property taxes.
Disproportionate Impact: Seniors on fixed incomes and struggling families risk losing their homes.
Economic Strain: A tax on business inventory under HJR 8 would be devastating to Oregon’s small businesses.
Public Opposition: Last year, over 1,200 Oregonians opposed a similar measure (HJR 201), and fewer than a dozen supported it. These proposals ignore clear public disapproval.

What Can You Do? Let your voice be heard! Contact your representatives and tell them to vote NO on HJR 6 and HJR 8. These taxes are the wrong solution for Oregon.

Share this post to help spread the word and protect homeowners, seniors, and small businesses from unnecessary taxes. Together, we can stand against these burdensome proposals. Let’s say NO to HJR 6 and HJR 8!

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com Last year, State Representative Paul Evans (D-Salem), submitted HJR 201 (2024 Session) which would have created Oregon's first ever property tax to go statewide and to be controlled by statewide politicians. Over 1,200 people testified again

03/01/2025

Happy New Year! Oh, and guess what? You can’t buy fluorescent tubes anymore. Surprise!

But wait, there’s more! Oregon’s on a roll with its eco-makeover. They’ve also nixed Styrofoam food containers—because who needs those, right?

Honestly, I hesitate to even bring this up (don’t want to plant any seeds here), but at this rate, toilet paper might be next on the chopping block.

So, let’s all do our part to save the planet: chow down on recycled foods and keep the dream alive!

Oregon has become the seventh state to ban the sale of fluorescent lightbulbs due to their mercury content, encouraging businesses and homeowners to transition to energy-efficient LEDs as part of

27/11/2024

Proposed Fire Fee

The Eugene City Council held a special session on September 30, 2024, to discuss draft proposals for a fire service fee and gather feedback. During the meeting, council members reviewed a tiered fee structure based on building size, suggesting $10 per month for an average single-family home and $38 per month for a typical commercial property.

Link to the City of Eugene page
https://shorturl.at/fbaWX

Eugene already imposes a public safety tax on individuals who work or live in the area. Given current financial challenges for many residents, is adding another fee—or tax—the right solution?

Important Considerations
Some legal concerns have been raised about bundling unrelated fees with utility bills. Courts in multiple states have ruled that utility bills should only cover consumption-based services, like water, sewer, or electricity. Here are a few examples:

Florida: Courts in Ocala, FL, ruled a fire service fee on utility bills unconstitutional, as it was effectively a tax added without proper legislative approval.
California: Under Proposition 218, any non-utility fees require voter approval and must be billed separately to ensure transparency.
Other States: Similar rulings in Colorado and Texas highlight the need for separate billing or classification as a tax to avoid legal challenges.
Key Takeaway
Even if voters approve a fire service fee, attaching it to utility bills can still raise legal and ethical concerns. Transparency, proper classification, and separate billing systems are essential to comply with legal standards and maintain public trust.

What do you think? Should Eugene move forward with this proposal, or should alternative funding methods be explored? Feel free to share your thoughts below!

13/11/2024

moving old shows to Speaker https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/krbn-internet-news-talk-radio--6403519

13/11/2024

📢 **Announcement from KRBN Internet News Talk Radio**

It’s with mixed emotions that I announce a major change for KRBN Internet News Talk Radio. Our broadcasting platform,

**BlogTalkRadio, will be shutting down on January 31st, 2025**.

While this change affects how we broadcast live,

**KRBN itself will not be going away**.

We’re exploring new ways to continue delivering content and connecting with our audience, and I’ll keep our page active for commentary, updates, and announcements on what’s next.

When I started this station with Clif Wilson, former GM at KNND in Cottage Grove, it was born out of my passion for bringing voices together. Over the years, we were lucky to reach a diverse audience worldwide, with calls from all walks of life—including one dedicated listener from Florence who gave us weekly coastal weather reports. After Clif passed, former Lane County Commissioner Jay Bozievich and I kept the show going, and thanks to this platform, we reached more people than we ever imagined.

Jay once said to me, “Thanks to the show, I'm connecting with more constituents than through Town Halls,” and over time, he became recognized more as the voice of “The Boze Noze Show” than as a commissioner. Through this show, I had the incredible opportunity to meet and connect with other commissioners, mayors, congressional candidates, and so many more inspiring people. Your participation, support, and calls from around the globe fueled our run and inspired us to reach Episode 585, with listeners from all walks of life—over 128,000 listens and nearly 100 followers who helped shape our journey.

All past episodes remain archived on Facebook and our streaming partners, including Podimo, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, TuneIn Radio, Player FM, Podchaser, Podcast.com, Podbay, and iHeartRadio. I hope these recordings continue to serve as a testament to the incredible journey we've had together.

To our listeners and friends, thank you from the bottom of my heart. None of this would have been possible without you. **KRBN will continue**—stay tuned on Facebook for updates on our next steps.

**With all my gratitude,
Robin, Creator and Producer of KRBN Internet News Talk Radio**

06/11/2024

Let the censorship and chaos begin! I’ve already noticed fewer election-related posts on Facebook, and I’m curious to see how long it will take for things to heat up—like back in 2017 when Maxine Waters called for impeachment just 17 minutes after the inauguration.

As for the tactics being used to prevent Trump from getting re-elected, it’s clear to anyone paying attention that the coming months will be very interesting.

On a positive note, I think Oregon made some good choices with the state measures, particularly Measures 117, 118, and 115. Measure 115, which amends the state constitution to allow the impeachment of statewide elected officials by a two-thirds vote, is something I think we needed. We’ve all seen candidates say what they need to get into office, but once they’re there, it can feel like voters have little recourse. Too often, officials can act without real accountability—so this measure is a step in the right direction.

As of now, it looks like 78% of voters rejected Measure 118—a good call, in my opinion. Although it was advertised as potentially giving families up to $6,000 a year, the 3% gross tax would have been tough on businesses. Since this tax would apply to gross income, not net profit, even businesses with slim margins would feel the pinch, possibly leading to higher prices for consumers or workforce cuts to manage costs.

06/11/2024

For Oregon, here's a link for election results
https://results.oregonvotes.gov/

Don’t worry—if the election didn’t go your way, rumor has it the campus cuddle puppies and Tinker Toys are ready for deployment. Hang in there!

01/09/2024

Tax dollars at work

Double-check your speedometer while driving around Eugene.Because the Eugene Police Traffic Safety Unit will be on high alert for the next few weeks.This is tha

20/08/2024

Measure 118 to tax corporations to pay Oregonians $1,600 a year for universal basic income?

The businesses opposing the measure range from Oregon staples to corporate behemoths

29/05/2024

Commentary by Robin:
Yesterday, June 28th, on the steps of the courthouse, Robert De Niro used a scare tactic, claiming that if Trump were re-elected, he would never leave office and would become a dictator.

It's interesting how people skew their words. Trump once mentioned that if he were elected again, he would be a "dictator for a day" as a metaphor for swiftly reinstating some of his policies and gaining control of the border. However, people have misconstrued this term to mean he intended to become a permanent dictator, just as they misinterpreted his statement about immigrants being "animals."

Robert De Niro's comment about Trump becoming a dictator is concerning, but under the Constitution, it's not feasible. The 20th Amendment ensures the president's term ends at noon on January 20th. If a president refused to leave, enforcement agencies, including the Secret Service, would ensure a peaceful transition of power. Additionally, our Constitution makes establishing a dictatorship nearly impossible. Martial law, an extreme measure, could only be declared under severe national emergencies and is heavily regulated with checks and balances to prevent abuse of power.

Unfortunately, people suffering from severe Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) might actually believe this rhetoric.

In my opinion, whether you like Donald Trump or Joe Biden is your choice. Just be smart, review each candidate, and don't blindly vote for your party.

15/05/2024

We want to let our listeners know that as of the end of January 2025, BlogTalkRadio, our longtime hosting platform for call-in shows, is shutting down.

The good news is that all our archives have been successfully transferred to Spreaker.com, where you can continue to access past episodes.

KRBN itself will still post updates here occasionally, but the future of our live call-in shows remains uncertain as we search for a new platform similar to BlogTalkRadio.

Thank you for your support during this transition—we appreciate each and every one of you! Stay tuned for updates

15/05/2024

**Commentary: Are you ready for speed cameras in the Eugene Springfield area? They're coming.**

I've openly said before that photo radar and red light cameras are not a good idea. They sound good on the surface, but in practice, they don't replace law enforcement and, in some situations, can actually be dangerous.

It's all part of Eugene Springfield's Vision Zero plan for zero deaths, which is *supposed to be* data-driven to reduce accidents. As we all know, data can be manipulated. Check out my blog (http://robinwonders.blogspot.com) on the nine roundabouts they wanted to put in Springfield—when you break down the data, it's interesting what you find.

"Vision Zero is an approach to transportation safety that aims to eliminate deaths and life-changing injuries caused by traffic crashes. In November of 2015, the Eugene City Council adopted as City policy the Vision Zero goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries on Eugene’s transportation system as a result of community advocacy efforts."

Don't believe me? Here's an excerpt from page 36 of the Vision Zero Action Plan:

"DB-3: Install automated enforcement cameras for red light violations on the Vision Zero High Crash Network using a data-driven process. Direct revenue generated by traffic citations directly back to the City’s Vision Zero Program."

Safety and law enforcement? Or revenue enhancement? You decide.

[Read more here.](https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/52323/Vision-Zero-Action-Plan)

09/05/2024

No on 20-351

Springfield's roads have long had a reputation for being in poor condition, and recent efforts have aimed to address this issue. Now, we're faced with voting on bond measure 20-351, which proposes to fix some of these roads. Supporters argue that the measure would levy a bond of 74 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value, roughly totaling $135 per year ($11.35 per month).

While I acknowledge the pressing need for road repairs—especially considering the costly damages potholes can inflict, such as the $500 repair bill I recently incurred—I'm also grappling with the reality of ever-increasing property taxes. Each year, it becomes more challenging to meet these financial obligations.

Regrettably, after careful consideration, I've decided to vote against this measure. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the matter

05/05/2024

Oregon Senate Bill 525 specifically targets "small nonroad engines," which are defined as engines of less than 25 horsepower that are not primarily designed to propel motor vehicles on public highways. This category includes a wide range of equipment commonly used in residential and commercial settings, such as:

Lawn mowers
Chainsaws
Leaf blowers
Portable generators
Other similar equipment powered by small engines
The bill directs the Environmental Quality Commission to adopt standards that will prohibit engine exhaust and evaporative emissions from new small nonroad engines beginning January 1, 2026. This means that manufacturers will need to develop and consumers will need to transition to zero-emission alternatives for these types of equipment. The intent is to reduce air pollution and promote cleaner technology in equipment that has traditionally relied on gasoline-powered engines.

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/SB525

Oregon is not alone and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission is also proposing a similar ban.

You can read a more detailed commentary on my blog at Robinwonders.blogspot.com

You will receive an email soon with meeting details. If you registered to testify remotely, the email will include a link or phone number to join the committee meeting.

15/04/2024

**Major Shifts Ahead for Gig Workers in Seattle and Beyond: Navigating New Challenges**

As the gig economy faces sweeping regulatory changes, both the U.S. Department of Labor and Seattle's local government are taking bold steps to redefine what it means to be an independent contractor versus an employee. With a new rule introduced under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), many gig workers traditionally seen as independent contractors could be reclassified as employees, promising them more benefits but also introducing new challenges ([read more about the federal rule here](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/01/10/2024-00067/employee-or-independent-contractor-classification-under-the-fair-labor-standards-act)).

**Why This Matters:**

Concerns over inadequate compensation have driven these changes, aiming to secure minimum wage and overtime pay for gig workers. However, these well-intentioned reforms come with complex repercussions.

**Local Impact: Seattle's Bold Step**

Starting January 2024, Seattle has enforced new minimum pay requirements for delivery platforms like DoorDash. Dashers in Seattle will now earn at least $26.40 per hour before tips. While this exceeds the city's minimum wage, the introduction of new consumer fees to cover these costs raises concerns about the sustainability of this model ([DoorDash's official response](https://about.doordash.com/en-us/news/responding-to-seattles-new-delivery-laws)).

**Potential Challenges:**

1. **For Workers:** Increased earnings per hour come at a potential cost—fewer delivery opportunities. With more workers potentially reclassified as employees, companies might limit the number of gig slots to control costs, leading to reduced flexibility and fewer earning opportunities.

2. **For Consumers:** Higher costs could lead to decreased demand for gig services, affecting overall earnings for gig workers.

3. **For the Gig Economy:** The shift threatens the very flexibility that defines gig work, possibly leading to a decrease in overall job satisfaction among gig workers who prized the independence their roles offered.

**Looking Forward**

The intended protection for gig workers under new labor laws could paradoxically undermine their earning potential, as companies navigate the increased financial burdens of employing workers under stricter criteria. As these changes unfold, the gig economy is poised for a period of significant adjustment. Stakeholders must engage in a robust dialogue to ensure these reforms do not negatively impact the dynamism of a sector that has become vital to the modern urban economy.

Stay tuned to how these regulatory changes reshape the future of gig work, and share your thoughts on how we can address these challenges together.

22/02/2024

interesting view of property taxes by state. In Tennessee the taxes on the median priced home would be $1,356/year. In Oregon it is $3,633/year. You never really own your home with property taxes because if you fail to pay them the government will take you home. One of the worst forms of taxation as it often forces the elderly out of homes they have paid off but the value of the home has increased and along with it the annual property tax. Really happy I don’t live in New Jersey!

Republicans Introduce Measure to Block Gig Worker Status Rule
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/republicans-introduce-measure-to-block-gig-worker-status-rule

Commentary: Understanding the protection of workers, including gig workers like DoorDash, Lyft, and others, is crucial. One of the main benefits of these jobs is the flexibility they offer—the amount you earn directly correlates with how much you choose to work. These positions are not intended to replace a full-time income but rather to supplement it. Imposing government regulations to classify all gig workers as employees could fundamentally alter the industry. It restricts the drivers' freedom to choose when and where they deliver, undermining the flexibility that defines these roles. The real beneficiary of such regulation would be the government, through increased tax revenues. Unfortunately, the real losers would be the businesses, consumers, and the workers themselves, who lose both choice and flexibility.

Congressional Republicans are introducing legislation to block a US Department of Labor worker classification rule that would make it more difficult for companies to label workers as independent contractors.