​June 27, 2018 - A measure strengthening Oregon’s required supermajority in order to increase state revenue appears that it is headed to the ballot in November. The measure clarifies that changes in tax rates, exemptions, or elimination of credits or deductions require at least three-fifths support in each chamber of the legislature. 

A coalition of small business groups turned in over 174,000 signatures supporting the measure by the end of June. The coalition believes that tax and fee increases should receive support from at least three-fifths of the legislature as voters intended when they passed Ballot Measure 63 in 1998.

​Do you think raising taxes on your family and homegrown Oregon companies should be as easy to approve as declaring marionberry pie the official state pie?

We didn’t think so.

The bar should be higher for the legislature to approve taking more of your hard-earned paycheck. Tax increases should always be the last option—never the first.

We have a solution. We need you to visit EndEasyTaxHikes.com/orla right now to add your name to a citizen initiative petition to prevent the legislature from using gimmicks and loopholes to raise taxes easily.

At EndEasyTaxHikes.com/orla, you can download and sign a petition—it will only take you three minutes. The website includes easy instructions to help you get signatures from your family members and colleagues as well.

With your help, ORLA and thousands of other Oregonians will place Initiative Petition 31 on the ballot this November to end easy tax hikes.

Background:

Ten years ago Oregonians smartly passed a constitutional amendment requiring any tax increase be approved by a supermajority of both the State House and State Senate. Now, since our state legislature can't get a supermajority to vote for a tax increase, they are creating and increasing "assessments" and "fees" that are really tax increases - because they only need a simple majority to implement and raise fees and assessments. We need you to visit EndEasyTaxHikes.com/ORLA and add your name to a citizen initiative petition to prevent the legislature from using gimmicks and loopholes to raise taxes easily. It's time to put a stop to this… a tax is a tax.

Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is pleased to honor four state finalists for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) 2018 Restaurant Awards! These winners will be recognized during ORLA's annual Convention in Tigard this fall.

NRAEF created the Restaurant Neighbor Award with founding partner American Express to highlight the positive contributions restaurants make in their local neighborhoods each and every day. The Faces of Diversity American Dream Award honors individuals from a diverse background who, through hard work and determination, have realized their American dream.

FACES OF DIVERSITY AMERICAN DREAM AWARD

Jessica Ritter, Ritter's House Made Foods, Salem
Background: Jessica Ritter started the Wild Pear Restaurant with her sister Cecelia over 18 years ago with little money and a lot of determination to build it into a local successful business employing an ethnically diverse staff that shares in their passion of great food and community. Jessica has lead a team of high school students in the ProStart program and has mentored several other aspiring young
chefs. Being a mix of Vietnamese and Irish decent, Jessica and Cecilia
live the example of promoting diversity in their work and community. 
Overcoming obstacles: While in their early 20’s, Jessica and her sister started with little to no start-up capital but showed through their passion, hard work and family values that by pulling together they could achieve their dreams.
Community support: The Wild Pear Restaurant supports many local charities such as Family Building Blocks, the Union Gospel mission and others. The Ritters also volunteer their time to coach young staff members aspiring to learn the industry both in management and in the kitchen.

RESTAURANT NEIGHBOR AWARD

Greg's Grill on the Deschutes, Bend
Charitable activities include: Each month the restaurant chooses a local charity and donates a dollar per glass of wine or four per bottle from a wine selection to that cause. New this year, Greg’s Grill is organizing a Clam Chowder Cook Off with six other restaurants where the money raised through ticket sales will be donated to local food banks.
Impact on the community: The restaurant has had a great deal of success, averaging close to $400-500 a month in donations. Their primary focus has been local, veteran-affiliated charities, as well as food bank charities. Not only does the community greatly benefit from these activities, the staff get invested in the idea of benefitting local organizations that need support.

Skyland Pub, Troutdale
Charitable activities include: The activities are numerous, including a golf tournament, giving tree, torch run, Polar Plunge, and several causes to support local businesses, law enforcement, firefighters, veterans, and foster children. 
Impact on the community: Proceeds from the annual golf tournament go to support Oregon Veterans, a special cause for Skyland Pub. They work with the Wounded Warrior Project (a nationally-focused organization), directing their efforts to support the needs of local area men and women. The pub also supports Forward Assist, an Oregon-based volunteer-run organization that solely supports Oregon Veterans. The impact they make on their community is immeasurable, and their reward is knowing they are making a positive impact on people who deserve it the most. 

Three Creeks Brewing Company, Sisters
Charitable activities include: Long-time supporter of the American Cancer Society and local Relay for Life of Redmond-Sisters. Donation of countless gift cards, swag, money, beer and time to those in need. They funded the start of the Sisters Stampede, sponsor the Sisters Folk Fest and the Quilt Show, contribute to the Sisters Parks and Recreation District, and put on the Annual Sisters Fresh Hop Festival.
Impact on the community: The company supports virtually every event in the community, raising thousands of dollars for charities and local causes. A recent noteworthy accomplishment was raising over $10,000 for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Oregon's Minimum Wage Continues to Rise

The 7-year minimum wage escalation plan for Oregon went into effect with the first increases on July 1, 2016. The plan includes 3 regions with different escalation methodologies over the course of those 7 years. The wage scale is as follows:

STANDARD: Includes portions of Multnomah / Clackamas / Washington Counties not within the Portland Urban Growth Boundary as well as Marion, Clatsop, Polk, Josephine, Jackson, Deschutes, Lincoln, Benton, Linn, Lane, Tillamook, Yamhill, Columbia, Hood River, and Wasco Counties.

• July 1, 2016: $9.75
• July 1, 2017: $10.25
• July 1, 2018: $10.75
• July 1, 2019: $11.25
• July 1, 2020: $12.00
• July 1, 2021: $12.75
• July 1, 2022: $13.50

PORTLAND METRO: The Portland Metro rate applies to employers located within the urban growth boundary (UGB) of the metropolitan service district. This includes portions of Multnomah / Clackamas / Washington Counties and cities including Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Oregon City, Gladstone, Happy Valley, Milwaukie, and Damascus. Use Metro's Urban Growth Boundary lookup tool to determine if your address is within the UGB. 
​
• July 1, 2016: $9.75
• July 1, 2017: $11.25
• July 1, 2018: $12.00
• July 1, 2019: $12.50
• July 1, 2020: $13.25
• July 1, 2021: $14.00
• July 1, 2022: $14.75

The Urban Growth Boundary is expanded through the process outlined in Title 14 of the Urban Growth Management Functional Plan. The process involves a needs assessment every 6 years, and as-needed review based on local jurisdiction input on a more frequent basis. For questions about the process of UGB expansions, contact Tim O’Brien at Metro.

NONURBAN: Includes Baker, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wheeler counties.
• July 1, 2016: $9.50
• July 1, 2017: $10.00
• July 1, 2018: $10.50
• July 1, 2019: $11.00
• July 1, 2020: $11.50
• July 1, 2021: $12.00
• July 1, 2022: $12.50

ORLA will continue to educate Oregon’s lawmakers on the value of tip credit as a solution to bring stability to the industry and solve wage inequality issues.