Street tax goes to voters


Following outcry and fierce lobbying efforts by Portland small businesses, a $460 million road maintenance fee proposed by council member Sam Adams will be decided by voters in November rather than by the city council.

 

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PORTLAND Following outcry and fierce lobbying efforts by Portland small businesses, a $460 million road maintenance fee proposed by council member Sam Adams will be decided by voters in November rather than by the city council. The amount businesses would pay would be based on the traffic they generate and their size. Opponents, including convenience stores, argued the fee puts unfair pressure on small businesses. The proposal, which has already endured political infighting in and out of City Hall, is nearly guaranteed to play a high profile not only in the November vote but also in the May mayoral election, where Adams is a candidate.

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