If lawmakers pass Gov. Tina Kotek's transportation package during the ongoing special legislative session, Oregon taxpayers will see their payroll tax for transit double — from 0.1% to 0.2% until 2028.
The big picture: For the median household making $80,000 annually, that would mean paying $160 out of their paycheck per year toward the state's public transportation fund, instead of the current $80.
What they're saying: "It's a small adjustment to a very narrow slice of the payroll tax, and it keeps buses running in communities that depend on them," Rep. Cyrus Javadi, the only Republican to vote in favor of the bill, said in a Facebook post before switching parties to become a Democrat.
Yes, but: The payroll tax for transit isn't the only fee Oregonians will pay more for if the bill passes the Senate, according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Vehicle registration and title fees would increase, and so would the gas tax.
The bottom line: These costs are expected to raise $890 million for the Oregon Department of Transportation, which is facing layoffs and steep cuts to road maintenance if no other revenue source is found.
