It appears Measure 120 was created by the Oregon Legislature, Gov. Tina Kotek, the Oregon Department of Transportation and the state’s bureaucratic class to serve up Oregon on a silver platter to the real estate, paving, trucking, corporate housing and timber industries.

The measure’s proponents are deceiving the public about the true reasons and cost to the average Oregonian if Measure 120 is passed. The measure’s language is deliberately confusing voters regarding the real costs of renewing tags and registering cars, pickup trucks, light trailers, motorcycles and mopeds. The voting ballot summary states Measure 120 would increase passenger vehicle registration fees by $42 per year.

However, Oregon vehicle tags and registration currently cost $126 every 2 years. So add this $84 increase to $126 and it equates to $210 every 2 years. The same increase of $42 per year would apply to utility trailers, light trailers, motorcycles, mopeds and some electric vehicles. Why don’t they clearly state the full cost every two years on the ballot summary?

To add insult to injury, vehicle title fees would nearly triple from $77 to $216 and gas taxes would also increase by 6 cents per gallon. All tallied, an Oregon Legislative body estimated it will increase revenues to ODOT, counties and cities for more vehicle infrastructure by more than $750 million per year — mostly off the backs of working class people — for paving projects to accommodate more urban and suburban sprawl across Oregon. The only reasonable part of the measure is the public transportation payroll tax.

Why would any Oregonian vote to support more ODOT paving pork as well as urban sprawl via county and city budgets through Measure 120? Based on my personal experience of attempting to provide input to ODOT regarding highway safety issues over a 10-year period — resulting in zero improvements from ODOT — I would have to conclude that if this measure passes, it will further entrench a complete lack of accountability from all of Oregon’s governmental bodies to its citizens.

If one supports accountability and transparency, clearly a no vote on Measure 120 is warranted.

Shannon Wilson
Eugene