BLOG: City of Portland First: Business Tax Reductions Approved for Smaller, New and Local Businesses

By Sam Adams

The Portland City Council voted yesterday to lower its business taxes on 13,000 smaller, new and local businesses. In modern times, this is the first time that the City government has ever lowered its business taxes on an ongoing basis.

These tax reductions targeted to local entrepreneurs are proof of our determination to make Portland a place for more businesses to grow and succeed; because it is with prosperous local businesses that most of our family-wage jobs can be created.

It has taken two years of persistence to make this change happen; a hearty thanks to my City Council colleagues, Warren Jimenez on my staff, Terri Williams and Sue Klobertanz in City's Bureau of Revenue and deepest gratitude to all the business owners and leaders who worked so hard to help make this change happen.

Adams' Proposal Targets Business Tax Reductions

Portland slices its business tax bill

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Posted Fri, 01/19/2007 - 7:07am.

[[ Categories: Jobs & Economy | Our Initiatives ]]

Form of Government

Submitted by Jim Bennett on Fri, 01/19/2007 - 4:37pm.

Sam,

I appreciate that you have to walk a fine line between getting citizen buy-in and voting your conscience. I understand that there are concerns about implementing a strong mayor form of government to replace the commission style currently in place. But I think you should keep in mind that the issue should be about what style will work best in the future for the citizens of Portland, not about who the current office holders are. It is very hard to do some times, I know. I think that I would lean towards the citizens on this one. Trust their judgement. They are the ones that will be impacted the most and they should have a say in how their local government is set up. You are doing a fine job. I like your independence.

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small and local business tax reduction

Submitted by sung il kim on Fri, 01/19/2007 - 6:19pm.

it's hard to believe that it took this long. good work to all of you. this change which was really a no brainer, will make NEW portland more creative and innovative. thanks for doing your job and helping local small business owners, their children, and those of us that go local. now let's do something for our education system in portland.

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Thank you

Submitted by geoffludt on Fri, 01/19/2007 - 11:35pm.

Hello Commissioner Sam,

Thank you for the work you did on this. As a radio talk show addict I've often heard of you in unflattering tones, I will never hear those tones again the same way.

geoffludt

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