Cost of Living High
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2/1/2010
On Jan. 26, 2010, Oregonians passed Measure 66 wich raised the income tax paid by households earning at or above to $250,000 a year or individual filers who make $125,000 or more. Measure 67 raised the state's $10 minimum corporate income tax. Don't think NIKE, Intel and a few of the other big companies that are still based in the Portland/Beaverton/Hillsborough area won't be thinking about downsizing or relocating their corporate offices (Phil Knight is a brilliant man and he's not going to stand for this - plan on him making some changes) over the bridge to Washington State. This will impact the whole economy of Oregon by the reprocussions it will cause. But will no sales tax, you got to do something to generate revenue for the big government in Oregon. Many of the bloggers have been denegrating the Californians who moved to PDX in the late 90's/early 2000 - it was because of all the great jobs in the high-tech sector when there was a boom time there... all of our friends from CA moved back when the jobs went dry. And they were great people, too, by the way. Intel, Sequent, Tektronix... many more companies and jobs - gone now. Rents are very high in nice areas, property taxes are sky-high if you can afford to buy, good paying jobs are hard to find (friend who was an executive assistant took her 8 mths to find a job), schools are very over-crowded, extremely liberal agenda in schools and the overall social fabric of the city. Lots of homeless downtown so tourism isn't what it should be because tourists get put off of the homeless and homeless young people pan-handling downtown. Real issue with hispanic illegals here because of all the agriculture and the need for cheap workers. Lots of social programs that will give to illegals so be aware that's where your personal income tax dollars/property taxes are going to - and this is not hidden in Portland, all very out in the open and heaven help you if you don't go along with this party line. My husband and I both worked for NIKE (me for 5 years, he for 9) which is the total example of capitalism, yet you have to go along with the PC climate there or you will be an outcast. The liberals out there are hard core and will feel free to denegrate you if you don't agree with them, I have experienced this first hand and I'm only an Independent! Unemployment is up there amoung the highest in the country. There is a terrible issue with drugs - meth and ecstssy (sp?) with teenagers and young people, that's part of why you see so many of them homeless downtown. And I won't even start on the gray weather and constant rain... too many others here have already spoke of that.
The culture in PDX is very cool, though, and lots of diversity in people, thoughts and restaurants. But the cost of living there is high, so you better be making some good money to live there... although for your sake, not over $250K combined!!
Betty | Jacksonville, FL