Over the summer, the Oregon Health Authority had proposed a tax increase on beer, wine and cider to help close a $718 budget gap. The proposal has since been pulled from the budget proposal by Oregon governor Kate Brown. The proposed alcohol tax would have been the first in the state in about 40 years.
According to an article in the Portland Business Journal, Brown decided against the increased taxes because she was concerned about how those industries were harmed by the wildfires earlier this fall, said Christian Gaston, the governor’s incoming budget director.
Full story here.
Wow, a $718 budget gap?!? Totally worth an increase in taxes….