More Services/No cuts/Tax the Rich!

Julia DeGraw, Progressive Party endorsed candidate for Portland City council (Position 2, currently filled by Nick Fish) Julia DeGraw last week announced her BRASS TAX proposal in a press conference.  The Basic Rights and Social Services Tax (BRASS Tax) will focus increased city level taxes at major corporattions and the city's wealthiest citizens, raising revenue to fund services without cuts to basic city services.  

From Julia's press release:
 

• City-wide, tuition-free and universal Pre-K staffed by teachers paid and supported on par with Portland’s K-12 teachers.

• Massive expansion of public emergency, transitional and affordable housing projects, built or purchased with bonds paid back through rents and BRASS Tax revenues.

• Mental health and addiction programs to reduce suffering and replace a criminal justice-approach to health problems.

• Full-time, family wage positions at Portland’s Parks and Recreation to end the excessive reliance on “temporary” workers.

In order to fund these programs, the BRASS Tax proposes the following changes to Portland’s tax structure:

• Raise Portland’s business income taxes on the biggest companies, which are almost all global multinational corporations. This progressive tax would raise the threshold for exemption, while raising rates at the top.

• Create a city income tax with rising rates on the top 10%, 5%, 2% and 1% of income-earners.

• Enact a city-wide luxury tax on extravagant consumer goods and services—cars over $80,000, jewelry over $5,000, cosmetic surgery, moorage/slip fees for yacht owners, a special tax on corporate box reservations and season tickets at the Moda Center and Providence Park. 

View her press conference and get more details here.