Argument FOR
Oregon education professionals understand that our students depend on safe, reliable transportation to get to and from school every day, to ensure they arrive safely and ready to learn and grow. That’s why Oregon’s education unions are asking for a YES on Measure 120.
"Safe transportation is not a luxury for Oregon's students, it's the first step to getting an education." -Enrique Farrera, OEA President
For schools and education employees, reliable transportation is more than a convenience — it’s a foundation for success. School buses must operate on safe roads to ensure students arrive on time, especially in rural and underserved areas. Teachers, school staff, and support professionals rely on well-maintained roads and transit options to reach schools every day.
Measure 120 provides stable, long-term funding to maintain and improve Oregon’s transportation system. This includes safer streets around schools, better-maintained roads for buses, and stronger public transit that helps students, families, and educators get to school and work reliably.
Investing in transportation is an investment in education. Safe, reliable roads and transit help students get to school, teachers get to classrooms, and allow staff provide essential services that make learning possible. Tens of thousands of educators and educational support professionals encourage all Oregonians to vote YES on Measure 120 to protect students, support educators, and strengthen the communities where we live and learn.
Oregon Education Association
Oregon School Employees Association
American Federation of Teachers – Oregon
(This information furnished by Elvyss Argueta, Oregon Education Association.)
Measure 120 Means Investing in Oregon’s Workers, Infrastructure, and Climate Future
The Oregon Blue Green Alliance is a coalition of labor, environmental, and community organizations working towards creating good jobs, while protecting our environment. There is a clear nexus between worker and environmental justice in transportation. Oregon's transportation system can help reduce our carbon footprint while providing good, family wage jobs for a skilled workforce. This requires a sustainable funding source presented to voters in Measure 120. We urge you to vote yes to fund Oregon's transportation system.
Our member labor unions represent thousands of transportation, construction, and public sector workers. We know that strong infrastructure requires a strong workforce with the resources to do the job right. For years, we've seen the opposite, with hundreds of critical positions going vacant without the funding to fill them. This spiral is not sustainable, and road users see the results every day in the form of crumbling infrastructure and delayed response times to accidents.
Voting YES on Measure 120 will protect family-wage union jobs, strengthen our transportation workforce, and ensure Oregon has the people and resources needed to maintain safe roads, reliable transit, and essential public services for years to come.
Oregon's transportation challenges are climate challenges that impact communities in all four corners of our state. We need a statewide funding plan that supports every community's ability to maintain safe roads, enhance low-carbon transit options, and keep essential services running.
This transportation funding package also advances Oregon's commitment to maintaining our natural resources and promoting clean, healthy communities across our state. Investments in public transit, allocations to local counties, and
resources for multimodal transportation alternatives are essential to creating the Oregon we want to pass on to our children.
Measure 120 prioritizes environmental sustainability and the workforce who maintains our transportation infrastructure.
Vote YES on Measure 120.
Oregon Blue Green Alliance
(This information furnished by Felisa A Hagins, SEIU Oregon.)
Oregon’s unions are asking you to Vote YES on Measure 120 for safe roads, connected communities and good jobs.
Measure 120 will:
• Protect Family Wage Union Jobs • Invest in Safer Roads • Fund Reliable Transit
We all deserve to feel safe as we travel across our beautiful state. From Beaverton to Brookings and Medford to Malheur, everyone wants to get from Point A to Point B and not have to worry about whether our roads will be maintained or even open at all.
The last few years have seen hundreds of essential positions within ODOT go vacant without funding to fill them. Maintenance crews have been decimated, in many cases leaving just a couple of people responsible for hundreds of lane miles of roads. The threat of additional layoffs has caused hundreds of workers to leave ODOT to find a stable paycheck to provide for their families. All this while our infrastructure deteriorates, response times to emergencies go up, and roads become less safe.
Without this funding, we’re all going to see more potholes, crumbling bridges, and more frequent road closures.
That’s why Oregon’s labor movement is asking you to vote YES on Measure 120.
Unions saying YES are:
OR Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
Oregon AFSCME
Association of Engineering Employees of Oregon
LIUNA Oregon - Oregon & Southern Idaho District Council of
Laborers
SEIU 503
(This information furnished by Catie Theisen, Oregon Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.)
33,000 Miles of Roads Need Maintenance
Counties across Oregon are responsible for the primary maintenance of over 33,000 miles of roads, infrastructure, and in some cases, transit. Years of underinvestment have resulted in potholes, crumbling bridges, and reduced public transportation services. County road departments statewide have been forced to make major staff reductions for decades. Between 1995 and 2017, the county workforce fell by 24%, or 485 positions. Today, we operate at roughly 80% of the staff needed to maintain Oregon’s roads and bridges. When the Oregon Legislature passed a pared-down transportation funding bill last year, we saw a way to safer travel. We urge voters to preserve that essential funding by voting YES on Measure 120. This package preserves the state’s allocation of 30% of essential State highway funding for counties.
To deliver the quality services our residents depend on, we need safe, well-maintained infrastructure. Emergency response, public safety, waste collection, are counting on Oregonians to VOTE YES on Measure 120.
Oregon’s transportation crisis is a statewide problem that impacts all 36 counties and every community. That’s why we need a statewide funding solution that ends years of kicking the can down the road. Alone, the counties simply don’t have the tools or the jurisdiction to tackle this problem independently.
For three decades, counties have been forced to make difficult decisions: reducing road maintenance crews, delaying key safety improvements, and cutting routine maintenance. Without stable long-term revenue, counties will continue to make deeper service and staffing cuts. This will increase the number of accidents and further deteriorate our ability to respond.
Oregon voters have an opportunity to finally fix our transportation system. We urge you to Vote YES On Measure 120 to maintain our most basic public infrastructure.
Kathryn Harrington, Chair, Washington County Commission
Pat Malone Benton County Chair
Nancy Wyse, Benton County Commissioner
Benton County Commissioner Gabe Shepherd
Phil Chang Deschutes County Commissioner
Laurie Trieger Lane County Commissioner
(This information furnished by Susan Allen, Oregon AFSCME.)
Reliable Frequent Transit Matters
Oregonians depend on a transportation system that provides clean, reliable ways to get where we need to go. Public transit is one of the most effective tools we have to reduce pollution, cut climate emissions, and make transportation more affordable and accessible. Decades of underinvestment have weakened our transportation system and put transit service at risk in communities across the state. Voters should protect a long-term transportation solution by voting YES on Measure 120.
Strong, stable transportation funding is essential to preserving and expanding public transit. The lack of ongoing funding has created an environment of scarcity, with transit advocates pitted against other road users while cuts have impacted every community in Oregon. We all deserve better.
Buses, light rail, and regional transit connections move hundreds of thousands of Oregonians every day while producing far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than individual car trips. When transit systems are reliable and frequent, more people choose them— reducing congestion, lowering emissions, and helping Oregon meet its climate goals. But when funding is unstable, transit agencies are forced to cut routes, reduce service, and raise fares, making it harder for riders to get to jobs, school, health care, and other essential destinations.
Right now, transportation systems across Oregon are preparing substantial cuts to the essential services so many of us rely on to get where we need to go. This is a death spiral for public transit, but we have a way out. Measure 120 will provide the stable funding we need to have safe roads and public transit systems that reflect the needs of communities across our state.
If Oregon wants to move forward, we need to invest in a multi-modal system that provides different communities with the resources to identify transportation solutions that make sense for their unique needs. This requires sustainable funding to build a sustainable future. Please vote YES on Measure 120.
Oregon Transit Association
Amalgamated Transit Union
(This information furnished by Felisa A Hagins, SEIU Oregon.)
LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES NEED REPAIR
As mayors we know how essential transportation is to the health, safety, and economic vitality of cities. Safe roads, reliable transit, and well-maintained bridges are the backbone of our local economies and the foundation of opportunity for working families.
When transportation funding is unstable, cities are forced to delay critical maintenance: like filling potholes, replacing foglines and guardrails, scale back safety improvements, and postpone projects that support housing and job growth. Emergency response time increases. Congestion worsens. Bus service becomes less reliable. The burden falls hardest on working people, seniors, and students who rely on safe, affordable ways to get to work, school, and medical appointments.
Oregon’s cities depend on a partnership with the state and county governments. State transportation investments help cities leverage federal dollars, plan responsibly, and deliver projects efficiently. Without predictable funding, cities face impossible choices: raise local taxes and fees, cut other essential services, or allow infrastructure to deteriorate further.
Investing in transportation is not just about concrete and asphalt. It is about public safety, economic development, and our ability to keep highways and roads safe and clear as we see more extreme weather conditions. It supports local businesses, connects rural communities to vital services and regional markets, and ensures first responders can reach people quickly in emergencies - to save lives. Functional transportation systems create family-wage jobs and strengthen supply chains that keep Oregon competitive nationally and globally.
Vote YES on Measure 120 to preserve essential transportation funding for communities like ours across the state. Our residents deserve safe streets, reliable transit, and infrastructure that reflect the strength and promise of Oregon. We stand united in calling for this transportation investment our communities need to thrive.
Mayor Lacey Beaty Beaverton
Mayor Malynda Wenzl Forest Grove
Mayor Lisa Batey Milwaukie
Mayor Keith Wilson Portland
Mayor Jim Akers City of Maywood Park
(This information furnished by Susan Allen, Oregon AFSCME.)
TRANSIT RIDERS UNITE
As a Portland City Councilor and a student who rides the bus to Portland State University, we know public transit is essential. We ride with workers commuting to jobs, students getting to class, parents traveling with their kids, seniors going to appointments, and neighbors trying to get where they need to go safely and affordably. For many Portlanders, transit is not a backup plan. It is a lifeline.
That is why we urge a YES vote on Measure 120.
Oregon depends on public transportation. Buses, MAX, and other transit connections help people get to work, school, health care, and everyday destinations without the high cost of owning a car. Transit also reduces congestion, cuts climate pollution, and helps make our city more accessible and connected. If we want an Oregon that is more affordable, more sustainable, and easier to get around, we need to invest in transit.
If this funding measure doesn’t pass, the Portland Bureau of Transportation is facing an $11 million shortfall. That could mean layoffs for about 50 staff, delays to safety projects, and reduced maintenance on the streets and infrastructure Portlanders rely on every day. TriMet is identifying service cuts to close a $300 million budget deficit. Our city isn't alone. Transportation systems across Oregon are facing cuts that threaten the service riders depend on.
When transit funding is unstable, riders feel it first. Service is cut, routes become less reliable, and costs become harder for working people and students to absorb. Those impacts are real, and they fall hardest on the people with the fewest options.
Measure 120 would help provide stable funding for transportation and transit so Portland can keep moving forward. It is an investment in safe streets, reliable service, and a city that works for the people who live here. We’re all on this bus together.
Angelita Morillo, Portland City Councilor & Transit Rider
Owen Swanson, PSU student & Transit Rider
(This information furnished by Felisa A Hagins, SEIU Oregon.)
Argument AGAINST
12,000+ Yamhill County Residents Demanded a Vote Stand With Them — Vote NO on the Gas Tax
By Jason Fields, Candidate for Yamhill County Commissioner, Position 3
More than 12,000 Yamhill County residents signed the petition demanding a public vote on Salem’s massive transportation tax increase.
Across Oregon, 250,000 citizens signed so voters — not politicians — could decide.
I’m proud to have helped gather those signatures.
Many were collected by volunteers standing outside grocery stores, talking with neighbors who are worried about the rising cost of living.
The question people kept asking was simple:
How much more are we expected to pay?
The Legislature’s transportation package raises $4.3 billion in new taxes over the next decade, including:
• Higher gas taxes • Increased DMV fees • New vehicle charges • A doubling of payroll taxes for transit
For many households, that means hundreds of dollars more every year.
And remember: Oregon already has some of the highest fuel prices in America.
Families are struggling with groceries, housing, childcare, and energy costs. Adding billions in new taxes right now will only make life harder.
My campaign for Yamhill County Commissioner is built on a simple
belief: The answer to every problem cannot always be a new tax.
During my five years on the Yamhill County Budget Committee, I’ve worked to protect reserves and fund essential services without raising taxes.
Over the past year, I’ve also knocked on thousands of doors across Yamhill County, listening to families about the challenges they face.
People are paying attention.
And they are frustrated with policies that keep making life more expensive.
Citizens stepped up and demanded a vote on these taxes.
Now it’s our responsibility to show up and be heard.
And as you make your decisions, pay attention to who stood with taxpayers during this process — and who didn’t.
Vote NO on Measure 120
Jason Fields Candidate, Yamhill County Commissioner – Position 3 www.fieldsforyc.com
(This information furnished by Jason Fields, Fields for Yamhill County.)
Measure 120 asks you—the Forgotten Oregonian—to pay again.
The Forgotten Oregonian might be you—the electrician driving to a job site, the nurse commuting before sunrise, the farmer hauling equipment, or the small business owner trying to keep employees working. These are the people Salem politicians always expect to pay more.
In 2017, lawmakers passed a massive transportation tax package and promised it would fix congestion and repair our roads. Instead, we’ve seen exploding costs, delayed projects, and a growing bureaucracy at ODOT.
Now they want billions more.
Higher gas taxes. Higher vehicle fees. Higher costs for families already struggling with inflation and rising living expenses.
Before asking you and your family for more money, state government should prove it can responsibly manage the billions it already collects. That means reforming ODOT, prioritizing road maintenance, and ending the waste and mismanagement that have defined Oregon’s transportation system for years.
As a chief petitioner on Measure 120, I led the unprecedented grassroots effort to refer this tax package to voters. In just 38 days, an all-volunteer team gathered over 250,000 signatures—something never before accomplished in Oregon history.
Before serving in the legislature, I spent my career in business and engineering, building a company from the ground up that employed 100 talented people solving some of the country’s most difficult manufacturing challenges. I solve problems for a living—and I deliver results.
As I travel Oregon during my campaign for Governor, I hear the same message everywhere: people feel forgotten by the government that is supposed to serve them.
Vote NO on Measure 120 and stand with the Forgotten Oregonian. Together, let's take back Oregon.
— Ed Diehl State Representative, Oregon House District 17 Co-Chief Petitioner for the Measure 120 'No Tax Oregon' Referendum Republican Candidate for Governor
(This information furnished by Edwin L Diehl, III, Republican Candidate for Governor.)
Taxpayers Association Oregon
urges No on #120
Here’s what politicians have been building
• Hyatt Convention Center luxury hotel ($74 million tax subsidies) • Nines luxury hotel Portland ($16 million tax subsidies) • Ritz Carlton Portland Hotel * bankrupt * (tax subsidies) • Portland celebrity food court ($10 million tax subsidies) • Private Hillsboro baseball stadium makeover ($30 million tax subsidies) • Hollywood films ($20 million tax subsidies)
Here's what taxpayers wished they built
• bridges • bypasses • express lanes • paving potholes
Both progressives and conservatives agree that our elected officials (state, county, city) are wasting money on things government should not be subsidizing in the first place.
25 years of daily tax and political news at OregonWatchdog.com
Join the movement to keep taxes low & stop government waste at
OregonWatchdog.com
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, founder Taxpayers Association Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)
COPS PAC SAYS VOTE NO ON MEASURE 120
The Community Oriented Public Servants (COPS) PAC represents community leaders, public safety professionals, and citizens who believe government should protect public safety while respecting the economic realities facing Oregon families.
Many of our members work in or alongside law enforcement, fire
service, and emergency response, where we see firsthand the challenges our communities face every day. Our mission is simple: support policies and leaders who strengthen communities, protect families, and preserve common-sense local governance.
Our PAC Director, Brian Wheatley, has served as a reserve police officer since 2008 and has long been committed to community service and public safety. Like many of our members, he believes public policy must reflect the real-world pressures families and small businesses are experiencing.
Measure 120 moves Oregon in the wrong direction.
Across our state, families are already dealing with rising costs for housing, groceries, fuel, and basic necessities. Small businesses are struggling with higher operating costs and economic uncertainty.
Now the government is asking working families to pay even more.
Policies that significantly increase the cost of living ripple through the entire community. When transportation costs rise, the effects are felt everywhere — by commuters, small business owners, farmers, tradespeople, and working families trying to stretch their budgets.
Public servants should always be mindful of how government decisions affect the people they serve.
At COPS PAC, we believe Oregon families deserve responsible leadership that protects both public safety and economic stability.
Measure 120 fails that test.
For the sake of Oregon families, small businesses, and communities already under economic pressure...
VOTE NO ON MEASURE 120.
COPS PAC Brian Wheatley, Director Reserve Police Officer Learn more at www.COPSPAC.com
(This information furnished by Brian Wheatley, COPS PAC #20935.)
YOUR CLACKAMAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER BEN WEST SAYS:
VOTE NO on MEASURE 120
As your Clackamas County Commissioner, I’m urging you to vote resoundingly NO on Measure 120. While infrastructure requires attention, massive gas tax increases and payroll taxes coming from workers’ paychecks are a misguided assault that heaps unnecessary hardship on families and local businesses amid crushing economic challenges.
In my re-election race to continue serving you as County Commissioner, I’m the only candidate with an unyielding record of resisting the relentless cycle of burdensome taxes.
My opponent and Oregon’s political class have a troubling history of:
• Backing flawed I-205 tolling schemes; • Backing Salem’s out-of-touch policies saddling hardworking residents with ever-higher costs; • Enabling expansive government overreach that lacks accountability.
The same politicians who stripped election integrity by rigging this election to May instead of November have backed my opponent for years.
County Commissioners are the ONLY BACKSTOP to Salem’s
Overreach.
Commissioners must STAND UP to Salem politicians who put Measure 120 on the ballot in the first place.
When new gas tax threats loomed, I didn’t talk...I acted. In the rain alongside you, together we gathered 250,000 signatures to give voters a voice against tone-deaf Governor Kotek and a runaway legislature.
Transportation solutions need fiscal discipline and prioritized budgets, not blank checks funded by the working class.
MEASURE 120 is UNJUST.
It’s regressive. It disproportionately punishes commuters and workers struggling with soaring housing and grocery costs. We cannot afford another permanent, record-high tax increase that lacks clear oversight or transparency.
My opponent’s record reveals a preference for ODOT’s failures and endless quests for new revenue.
My actions reflect an unwavering rejection of "tax-first" ideology.
I’ll continue to demand rigorous transparency and accountability from our transportation departments.
You have two important votes on your ballot!
VOTE NO for Measure 120 and VOTE YES for candidates who keep Clackamas County moving – affordably without freeway tolls, and gas and payroll tax increases that come from your paycheck.
(This information furnished by Ben West.)
Taxpayers Association Oregon
urges No on #120
Oregon gas taxes have been soaring for nearly a decade.
2018 + 4 cents -- a +13% increase 2020 + 2 cents -- a +5% increase 2022 + 2 cents -- a +5% increase 2024 + 2 cents -- a +5% increase 2025 + 6 cents -- a +15% increase (under HB 3991)
Total = 46 cents
This chart proves ODOT has more money.
This chart shows you have been paying more.
This chart shows you have been paying more every 2 years.
Yet, ODOT and politicians decided to triple their tax increase in 2025 compared to previous years. Triple! That is too much. Too fast. ODOT should balance their tax increases with taxpayers’ ability to pay it. They should be modest and fair. Measure 120 is neither modest or fair. No on #120.
25 years of daily tax and political news at OregonWatchdog.com
Join the movement to keep taxes low & stop government waste at
OregonWatchdog.com
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, founder, Taxpayers Association Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)
Farmer, Business-Owner, and YAMHILL COUNTY COMMISSIONER Kit Johnston
Encourages YOU to VOTE NO ON MEASURE 120
Protecting Hardworking Oregon Families
As Chair of the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners, my responsibility is to stand up for the taxpayers of our county. That means NO NEW TAXES and NO TAX HIKES!
I personally helped circulate the petition to refer this $4.3 billion tax increase to the voters. More than 12,000 Yamhill County residents signed, joining 250,000 Oregonians statewide who demanded the right to vote on these taxes.
With families already feeling the pressure of higher costs for groceries, fuel, housing, and utilities, new taxes and tax hikes deepen the financial strain many households and businesses are facing in Oregon.
Protecting Oregon’s Referendum Process
I stepped forward as a plaintiff representing Yamhill County in the lawsuit challenging the state’s decision to move the referendum that clearly stated a vote in NOVEMBER to the May election instead.
Moving this vote to May forced counties to rapidly adjust staffing, security, and ballot processing — all of which increased election costs for taxpayers.
The rushed timeline created concerns about equitable access. Many citizens rely on gathering signatures in lieu of paying a fee to submit statements to the voters’ pamphlet. With the shortened timeline, many people did not have the time or resources to participate.
Protecting Oregon Drivers
ODOT needs to budget effectively and efficiently while prioritizing what is important to Oregonians.
Reducing fatalities at our most dangerous intersections is a
PRIORITY!
STOP wasteful spending. STOP delaying projects, which drives up costs.
I have personally spoken out about coming to a bipartisan agreement that does not increase the burden on Oregon families and that prioritizes road projects, which could reduce fatalities by up to 90%.
Leadership means standing up for the people you represent.
Now it’s time for voters to make their voices heard.
VOTE NO on MEASURE 120!
Yamhill County Board of Commissioners Chair
KIT JOHNSTON www.kitforyamhill.com
(This information furnished by Kit Johnston, Friends of Kit Johnston, PAC 21700.)
Taxpayers Association Oregon
urges No on #120
Vehicle title fees to increase by 181%
It’s not just the gas tax.
This package includes large hikes to title and registration fees that hit every vehicle owner in Oregon. Title costs are set to increase by a staggering 181%.
For someone who needs a car to get to work or take their kids to school, these fees are a massive new barrier to transportation.
These aren’t just “adjustments”—they are significant hits to your wallet.
Reject these excessive fees. No on #120.
25 years of daily tax and political news at OregonWatchdog.com
Join the movement to keep taxes low & stop government waste at
OregonWatchdog.com
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, founder Taxpayers Association Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)
Taxpayers Association Oregon urges No on #120
Your tax dollars are wasted on lavish government parties ...
• $75,000 Employee party at the zoo by transit agency Tri-Met (1) • $11,589 Staff party featuring therapy goats for Portland City staff (2) • $26,500 Christmas and retirement party for Oregon Energy Trust (3) • $13,000 retirement party on a boat for Portland Public School staff (4) • $9,330 tostada themed party for Governor's staff (5)
You and I are witnessing a lot of partying using taxpayer dollars at various government entities at the same time whey they claim they’re “broke” and need more money. ODOT said they had to raise gas taxes. Yet, when the gas tax referendum (I was a co-chief petitioner) halted the ODOT gas tax, then ODOT miracolously soon found $213 million in savings just last March (6). They lost my trust. Vote No.
25 years of daily tax and political news at OregonWatchdog.com
Join the movement to keep taxes low & stop government waste at
OregonWatchdog.com
Sources: (1) KATU 11/15/25, (2) Willamette Week 9/16/25 (3) Oregon State Audit 6/2018 (4) KGW 8 1/9/19 (5) Oregon Capital Chronicle 1/8/25 (6) KGW-TV 8 3/9/26
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, Founder, Taxpayers Association of Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)
I am 73 years old, confined to a wheelchair, and live on a low-income. Like thousands of other Oregon seniors, disabled people, and working families, the massive tax increases in HB 3991 will hit me hard.
This law raises the gas tax to 46 cents per gallon, nearly doubles vehicle registration and title fees, and doubles the payroll tax that funds transit. For someone on a fixed income in rural Klamath Falls, these increases aren’t just numbers on paper. This is money I won’t have for groceries, medicine, and my healthcare needs. Rural Oregonians drive farther for medical care, groceries, and daily needs. These tax hikes punish the people who can least afford them.
That’s why I worked so hard gathering signatures for Referendum 2026-302. Over 250,000 Oregonians signed the petition because we believe the people, not just politicians in Salem, should have the final say on these huge tax increases.
Vote NO on Measure 120. Repeal these unfair tax increases and send a message that Oregon should not balance its budget on the backs of its most vulnerable citizens. Submitted by: Mary Martin, Klamath Falls, Oregon
(This information furnished by Mary Martin.)
Taxpayers Association Oregon
urges No on #120
Your transportation tax $$$ recklessly wasted
• $1.1 billion over-budget Rose Quarter project (1) • $565 million over-budget I-205 Abernethy Bridge (2) • $500 million over-budget Hood River Bridge (3) • $200 million to study I-5 bridge never built (4) • $200 million over-budget Hwy 20 Eddyville (5) • $134 million for costly car-free (bus only) bridge (6) • $61 million to study tolling (7) • $19 million for costly car-free bridge over busy I-84 (8)
This type of over-budget blunders and mis-spending has gone on for decades. It won’t stop until voters say enough! Take charge of your transportation dollars by demanding fiscal discipline before you approve of higher taxes.
25 years of daily tax and political news at OregonWatchdog.com
Join the movement to keep taxes low & stop government waste at
OregonWatchdog.com
Sources: (1) The Oregonian 5/9/25 (2) OPB 8/5/25 (3) City Observatory. org 10/23/25 (4) Oregonian 7/4/13 (5) OPB 10/11/2016 (6) Portland's Tillicum bridge (7) OPB 3/12/2, (8) Portland's Blumenauer Bridge over I-84. Projects are based on completed or estimated costs with some not yet started. Funding include various government entities. See also more ODOT waste at OregonCatalyst.com
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, founder Taxpayers Association Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)
A personal message
I spent 27 years of my life investigating and exposing government waste, fraud & abuse, since I founded the Taxpayers Association Oregon in 1999.
The difference over 27 years, is that Oregon's million-dollar boondoggles have become billion-dollar boondoggles. Oregon is now in the top 10 biggest, fattest, most expensive state government states in America (per capita).
I joined as a chief petitioner to the gas tax referendum along with Senator Bruce Starr and Rep. Ed Diehl, so we could stop these skyrocketing taxes.
All I wish is for us to be like other states by (1) prioritizing essential services (2) reducing overlap (3) ending corporate welfare (4) more transparency (5) not trying to do everything but rather doing what is important better (6) data-driven results & other cost-effective tools to reduce waste and abuse.
You can help by voting no on bad taxes.
Sincerely, Jason Williams Founder, Taxpayers Association of Oregon Co-chief petitioner on gas tax referendum
25 years of daily tax and political news at OregonWatchdog.com
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, founder Taxpayers Association Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)
Oregonians are already struggling with high costs for gas, groceries, and everyday essentials. Measure 120 asks voters to uphold a massive tax and fee hike from House Bill 3991 — a 6-cent-per-gallon increase in the state gas tax (from 40 to 46 cents), doubling the transit payroll tax (from 0.1% to 0.2%), and sharply raising vehicle registration and title fees (e.g., title fees jumping from $77 to $216).
These increases were rushed through a special session with little public input and will hit working families, small businesses, rural drivers, and commuters hardest. Gas prices will rise further, making commutes, deliveries, and family road trips more expensive. Higher registration and title fees punish vehicle owners, while the payroll tax hike burdens employers and employees alike — all to fund a transportation package that lacks accountability and efficiency.
Over 250,000 Oregonians signed petitions to refer this law to the ballot, showing widespread opposition. Yet the Legislature tried to silence voters by moving the vote from November to May — a lower-turnout primary — in SB 1599, a move many see as an attempt to undermine our constitutional referendum rights. (Opponents are challenging this in court.)
Vote NO on Measure 120 to reject these burdensome tax and fee increases. Protect Oregon families from more costs, demand better spending priorities, and send a clear message: taxpayers deserve a voice, not higher bills.
Oregon needs real solutions for roads and bridges — not automatic tax hikes that ignore economic realities.
(This information furnished by Joyce M Furlong.)
Taxpayers Association Oregon
urges No on #120
High gas taxes hurt us all
Gas taxes hurt farmers Gas taxes hurt truckers Gas taxes hurt the poor Gas taxes hurt you and me Gas taxes hurt small shops
Gas taxes hurt Uber drivers Gas taxes hurt delivery drivers Gas taxes hurt seniors on fixed income Gas taxes hurt soccer moms going to soccer Gas taxes hurt unemployed going to job interviews
Oregon has nation’s 12th highest gas tax.
That hurts.
25 years of daily tax and political news at OregonWatchdog.com
Join the movement to keep taxes low & stop government waste at
OregonWatchdog.com
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, founder Taxpayers Association Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)
ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION — Referendum Petition 2026-302 (HB 3991)
A simulated Citizens' Initiative Review panel of 23 Oregonians — selected to mirror the state's demographics by geography, party, race, age, and income — spent five days examining HB 3991 with testimony from legislators, ODOT officials, economists, county engineers, tribal leaders, and transit agencies.
The jury voted 12–11 to repeal. This near-split, from a projected 67–19 polling blowout, shows this is a harder choice than either side admits.
The jury unanimously found:
• ODOT's funding crisis is real, driven by structural decline in gas tax revenue as vehicles become more efficient. • HB 3991's taxes are regressive. Low-income families pay a far higher share of income than wealthy Oregonians, with no offset or rebate. • Deferred maintenance costs compound — every year of underfunding makes the eventual bill larger.
The majority voted NO because: The bill asks low- and middle- income families to bear the cost without accountability. ODOT has a $1 billion forecasting error and billions in project overruns. The bill's oversight provisions lack teeth — no independent oversight board, no binding cost caps, no competitive bidding reform. The legislature passed it in a special session on party-line votes after 95% of public testimony opposed it. The governor herself later asked to repeal it.
The minority voted YES because: Roads and transit are failing now. 483 ODOT workers already laid off. Counties will close rural roads. Tribal communities will lose access to medical care. Rejecting imperfect funding in hope of a better bill risks years of compounding deterioration.
Both sides agreed: Oregon needs infrastructure funding and ODOT accountability reform. The legislature should pair real revenue with real reform in any replacement bill.
Full simulation: cir.ElectionByJury.org/or-gas-2026
(This information furnished by Clay Shentrup, Co-founder and Board Member, Election by Jury.)
VOTE NO ON SALEM’S $4.3 BILLION TAX HIKE
Oregon lawmakers passed a $4.3 billion tax increase.
Gas taxes go up. Payroll taxes double. DMV fees increase. New vehicle charges are added.
For many families, that means about $300 more every year.
And that’s before you fill up your tank.
Oregon already has the 4th highest gas prices in America—about $4.13 per gallon.
We already pay the 12th-highest gas tax in the country.
And Oregon adds another hidden cost through the Clean Fuel Standard, which can add 5–35 cents per gallon to fuel prices.
Then something remarkable happened: Oregonians pushed back.
More than 250,000 citizens signed petitions to force a vote on these tax increases — including over 12,000 people right here in Yamhill County.
The petitions clearly stated the vote would occur in the November 2026 election, when the most voters participate.
But lawmakers didn’t like that, so they changed the rules.
Instead of November, they moved the vote to the low-turnout May primary.
Local leaders stepped forward to defend voters’ rights.
Yamhill County Commissioner Kit Johnston joined the legal challenge, and community members like Jason Fields, candidate for Yamhill County Commissioner, helped gather signatures so the public could have a voice.
Now the decision is yours.
If you believe Oregon families already pay enough… If you believe voters deserve the final say on massive tax increases…
Send Salem a message. VOTE NO.
Tom Hammer, Director
Town & Country PAC
(This information furnished by Tom Hammer, Director, Town and Country PAC.)
SMALL BUSINESS CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER PAYROLL
TAX
Vote NO on Measure 120
Small businesses are the backbone of Oregon’s economy, but they are being pushed to the brink by rising costs and higher taxes.
This package doubles the state’s payroll tax, which directly increases the cost of every business and farm in the state.
When the government raises these taxes, businesses think twice about staying in Oregon.
Already, Oregon small businesses have paid higher state taxes, county taxes, city taxes, property taxes, wage taxes, labor costs, electricity costs and inflation costs.
We should be encouraging economic growth, not taxing the ability of businesses to provide jobs.
VOTE NO ON MEASURE 120.
For more information, follow us at OregonWatchdog.com
(This information furnished by TJ Reilly, Oregon Small Business Association.)
ANGELITA SANCHEZ, STATE REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATE
SAYS:
Vote NO on Measure 120 Stop Gas Tax Tricks. Protect Election Integrity
I gathered signatures for a November General Election vote against Gas Taxes because Oregon is too expensive and you deserve to vote.
After petitions qualified, super-majority politicians moved the election to May because they didn’t want to be held accountable for tax- raising at an election where Gas Tax increases appear with them on the November ballot.
Changing the rules AFTER the people spoke harms Election
Integrity.
I know firsthand because I was there. As a Linn County captain, I gathered signatures in the cold and rain. I drove thousands of peti tions over ice-covered mountain passes so rural voters’ voices would
be heard.
As staff to Senator Cedric Hayden, I worked in the Capitol when Senate Bill 1599A passed on a party-line vote to rescind your rights
and rig the election to May where THEY KNEW voter participation
would be low.
So I sued as the Linn County “Right to Vote” Plaintiff to protect
our right to be heard!
The power of the Vote should belong to the People, not politicians.
I’ve stated clearly on public record:
“If government wants to charge the people a fee, people deserve
a vote.”
PEOPLE SHOULD DECIDE!
Tina Kotek and Democrat politicians don’t think we should vote. They
shouldn’t be trusted with more power!
From local mayors to state legislators:
• When politicians raise taxes and fees, assuming their constitu ents are too ignorant to participate or too stupid to vote, it tells you everything about who they are.
Some politicians don’t trust voters, but I do!
I’m the only candidate running for HD11 who takes action to protect the integrity of our elections AND keep Oregon affordable.
You have two votes to take today.
1. Vote NO on Measure 120! 2. Vote YES for candidates who protect election integrity and protect your constitutional rights!
Sincerely, Angelita Sanchez
http://www.angelitasanchez.com
(This information furnished by Angelita Sanchez, Candidate HD 11.)
As a candidate for East Lane County Commissioner, I’m urging you to vote NO on Measure 120. While our infrastructure needs real solutions, bipartisan options were available but rejected in favor of slapping massive gas tax increases and payroll taxes directly from workers’ paychecks. Transportation improvements demand fiscal discipline and smart priorities, oversight, not blank-check tax grabs from the working class.
I’m Jake Pelroy, a Marine Veteran turned small business owner running to make East Lane County work for working families. After leaving the military, I started a business that lets me serve my community through public policy. I’ve fought tax and fee increases and worked to reduce red tape for Oregonians. In this campaign to serve you, I’m the only candidate with a proven record of standing firm against endless tax hikes.
My opponent, Heather Buch, and Oregon’s political insiders have a troubling history of supporting policies that keep piling costs on hardworking residents. The same politicians who shifted elections to May instead of November have backed her for years. Heather supported the much larger version of Measure 120, stating in a letter of support she is “encouraged by the thoughtfulness of House Bill 2025.”
County Commissioners are the last line of defense against Salem’s overreach. We must stand up.
When new gas tax threats appeared, I collected signatures to get the gas tax on the ballot, giving voters a real voice against Governor Kotek and a runaway legislature.
My record proves I reject “tax-first” solutions. I’ll continue demanding real transparency and efficiency.
If you live in East Lane County, District 5 encompasses the cities of Cottage Grove, Creswell, Coburg, Oakridge, Lowell, Westfir, portions of South West Eugene, and the unincorporated communities of Goshen, Pleasant Hill, Dexter, Walterville, Blue River, McKenzie Bridge, and Marcola. You have critical choices on your ballot! Vote NO on Measure 120 and vote YES for candidates like me who keep East Lane County affordable for working families.
(This information furnished by Jacob D Pelroy, Pelroy for Commissioner.)
Taxpayers Association Oregon
urges No on #120
There once was a lady named Kotek Who greatly taxed my paycheck She raised my gas taxes and DMV fees Brought me financially to my knees
My friends said they can't take it anymo' So, they moved to Nevada, Texas, and Idaho I'd join, but I'm simply all out of luck Cuz I can't afford gas for my U-Haul truck
Keep taxes low & affordable so families don't leave.
25 years of daily tax and political news at OregonWatchdog.com
Join the movement to keep taxes low & stop government waste at
OregonWatchdog.com
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, founder Taxpayers Association Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)
The issue is about taxation with representation
As Oregon celebrates America’s 250th birthday this July 4th, we’re reminded about our nation’s core principles. One core value is “No Taxation Without Representation”.
The Oregon 250 Resolution Celebrating America’s 250th has this reminder:
“WHEREAS, the Boston Tea Party and the creation of ‘No Taxation
Without Representation’ enshrined low taxes in our government. Lower taxes empowered everyday people and small businesses to great, never-before-seen heights, which made us the world’s biggest
economy in 1890, unseating our former rulers, Great Britain. Today,
the average wage of America’s poorest state is still greater than the
average wage of most European nations.”
Clause #5 (of 15) Oregon 250 Resolution honoring America’s 250th
Oregon250.com
When the $4.3 billion gas tax was passed by politicians, they did not ask voters.
This is why I was a co-chief petitioner to the gas tax referendum petition which helped collect a quarter million signatures so Oregonians could have a right to vote on this tax. People can disagree on the tax, but we should all agree that we have a right to vote on it. We need taxation with representation.
Let us reflect upon our historic democratic principles when we consider any election issue.
For more information on our nation's history read below:
• You can read all 15 clauses of the Oregon 250 Resolution (celebrating America's 250th) at Oregon250.com. • The Oregon 250 Resolution, which is celebrating America’s 250th, is a resolution with the goal of being passed by Oregon cities and counties as a way to recognize our nation's history, honor our unique liberties, and also act as an inspirational
teaching tool to the younger generation.
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, founder Taxpayers Association Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)
Taxpayers Association Oregon
urges No on #120
We asked people how the gas tax increase impacts them:
"I'm currently commuting 70 miles one direction for work. I've been looking for work closer but haven't had any luck. I already spend between $300-400 every single month driving back and forth for work... This gas tax would cause me to not be able to pay the bills that I'm already struggling to pay. I would end up living in my car if this tax is put into effect." -- Commuter from Roseburg (1)
"I'm 81 years old, and I do not have any savings or investments to help with my retirement expenses. To have that big a jump in taxes would sink me even more in debt than I am right now. ... My income does not reach my expenses." -- Senior from Oregon City (2)
The people hurt the most by this gas tax are the most quiet among us. They need us to help protect them. Please reject the gas tax hike.
25 years of daily tax and political news at OregonWatchdog.com
Join the movement to keep taxes low & stop government waste at
OregonWatchdog.com
Sources: (1)(2) 2026 Gas Tax Impact Report -- How it hits everyday people, Report by Jason Williams, Taxpayers Association of Oregon, 3/11/26, OregonCatalyst.com News Blog. People asked last fall how HB 3991's gas tax impacts them.
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, founder Taxpayers Association Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)
The 2025 legislative session was revealing: The governor and legislators had more money than ever. They allocated money to pet political priorities first, then ran out before paying for roads and bridges, one of their PRIMARY responsibilities. They forced an “emergency” session to raise taxes to make up the difference. 250,000 Oregon voters signed a petition to repeal the tax. The politicians forced the Measure into the primaries, a low turnout election, so it won’t be on the ballot next to their names running for re-election. Is that the “protecting democracy” they keep crowing about? And now they claim to have "found" the money, but they still want to raise taxes.
Legislature Priorities Have Changed
The 2001-03 biennial Oregon budget was $34 Billion:
• 32% for schools • 12% for infrastructure • 6% for public safety • 12% for administration • 25% for “human services” (safety net) • 13% for everything else
The 2025-27 budget is $140 Billion, four times higher:
• Only 18% on schools • 7.5% on infrastructure • 5% on public safety • 14% on administration • 45% on human services, almost half • 10.5% for everything else
Numbers don't lie. Note the shift of priorities from education, infrastructure and public safety to more handouts, bureaucracy and perma-dependency.
We Aren't Getting Much For Our Money
Oregon Pre-K-12 schools rank 44th in the US despite spending $19,376 per child. Mississippi ranks 10 levels higher at 34th and spends only $12,394 per child. Colorado ranks 6th for $16,410 per child. Oregon paid $724 Million in 2024 to “help” 12,034 homeless in the PDX Metro area. That is $60,412 per person, but the homeless count rose by 61% in that time. Where is all the money going?
Time For A Change
Politicians have quadrupled state spending in 24 years. Every year it is more giveaways and higher taxes, and few visible improvements in ordinary taxpayers’ lives. Businesses are leaving. Tell the politicians to remember the needs of Oregon taxpayers who pay the bills.
VOTE NO ON 120
(This information furnished by Tom R Hope.)
Vote NO on Measure 120.
Oregon Freedom Coalition and its tax reform project, No Tax Oregon, oppose Measure 120.
Oregon's working families are already stretched thin. Measure 120 asks you to approve a massive package of tax and fee increases that will hit the people who can least afford it the hardest.
If this measure passes, you'll pay more at the pump–the gas tax jumps from $0.40 to $0.46 per gallon. You'll pay more to register your car–fees nearly double from $43 to $85. You'll pay $139 more just to title a vehicle. And the state employee payroll tax for transportation doubles from 0.1% to 0.2%.
These aren't small numbers for families living paycheck to paycheck. For a two-car household that fills up weekly, the added costs stack up to hundreds of dollars a year–money that could go toward groceries, childcare, or rent. In a state where the cost of living is already squeezing middle- and lower-income Oregonians, this is the wrong approach at the wrong time.
Supporters say we need this funding to maintain our roads and bridges. Nobody disputes that Oregon's transportation infrastructure needs investment. But billions of dollars in new taxes and fees shouldn't fall disproportionately on everyday drivers and working people. Before asking Oregonians to pay more, the legislature should demonstrate it can spend what it already collects responsibly and explore funding solutions that don't place the heaviest burden on those with the least.
Nearly 250,000 Oregonians signed a petition to put this question before voters because they believed the legislature went too far. They were right.
A NO vote on Measure 120 repeals these increases and sends a clear message: find a better way to fund transportation — one that doesn't balance the budget on the backs of working families.
Say NO to taxes. Vote NO on Measure 120.
(This information furnished by Nicholas J Stark, Oregon Freedom Coalition.)
Taxpayers Association Oregon
urges No on #120
What did ODOT do with the extra one billion bonus?
"The Oregon Department of Transportation will receive over $1 billion
dollars in additional transportation funding as part of the federal infrastructure package. The money will go toward projects around the
state that will benefit drivers, transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians,
help maintain roads " ODOT Press release,
11/7/21 (1)
What did ODOT do with that extra billion?
What new bridge was built?
What new bypass was built?
Roughly three years after ODOT received a billion dollar bonus from the federal government, they came back asking taxpayers for a massive gas tax and DMV fee increase. It doesn’t make sense. Vote No on #120.
25 years of daily tax and political news at OregonWatchdog.com
Join the movement to keep taxes low & stop government waste at
OregonWatchdog.com
(1) Source: “ODOT to receive more than $1 billion in transportation funding”, ODOT press release, 11/7/2021, URL content. govdelivery
.com /accounts/ORDOT/bulletins/2fb2ab2 See more ODOT commentary, articles at OregonCatalyst.com
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, founder Taxpayers Association Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)
Taxpayers Association Oregon urges
No on #120
Oregon has the nation's 5th highest gas prices
#1. California - $5.36 #2. Hawaii - $4.76 #3. Washington - $4.74 #4. Nevada - $4.39 #5. Oregon - $4.30
Source: AAA as of 3/12/26
• We are paying more. • We are hurting more. • We are sacrificing more. • We have less money left over for our families.
We can’t afford Measure #120. No on #120.
25 years of daily tax and political news at OregonWatchdog.com
Join the movement to lower taxes & stop government waste at
OregonWatchdog.com
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, founder Taxpayers Association Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)
VOTE NO ON MEASURE 120 Reject the $4.3 Billion Gas Tax Package
Measure 120 asks Oregon voters to approve one of the largest transportation tax increases in state history.
It includes:
• A 6-cent gas tax increase • Major increases to vehicle registration and title fees • A doubling of the payroll tax that funds transit
Oregonians are already struggling with the high cost of living.
Families on the North Coast rely on their vehicles to get to work, school, and medical care. These taxes will make everyday life more expensive for working families and seniors.
More than 250,000 Oregonians signed petitions to ensure voters could decide this issue.
I stood with them.
• I helped gather signatures to qualify the referendum. • I later served as Tillamook County’s plaintiff in a statewide lawsuit defending voters’ rights when politicians tried to change the rules and move the election.
While the court allowed the May election to proceed, the principle remains:
Voters deserve the final say on massive tax increases.
But this tax package exists because our current State Representative, Cyrus Javadi, cast the deciding vote to pass it.
That vote forced a $4.3 billion tax increase onto Oregon families.
Soon after, Javadi switched political parties.
Then he voted again — to move the referendum to a lower-turnout May election, away from the November ballot where voters originally expected to decide the issue.
Many voters in House District 32 see this for what it is: a betrayal of the trust they placed in their representative.
Oregonians deserve leaders who stand with voters — not Tina Kotek and her failing policies.
Instead of raising taxes again, Oregon should:
• Fix spending priorities • Improve oversight of transportation dollars • Make better use of the funds we already collect
Vote NO on Measure 120.
Max Sherman Tillamook County Plaintiff – Gas Tax Referendum Lawsuit Candidate for State Representative, House District 32 www.votemaxsherman.com
(This information furnished by Max Sherman, Max Sherman for Oregon.)
Taxpayers Association Oregon
urges No on #120
My history with referendum proves politicians wrong
2003 tax referendum: Oregon lawmakers passed a $600 million income tax hike saying the sky-will-fall without it. I was co-chief petitioner to the tax referendum petition that stopped it by putting it to voters (Measure 30) who rejected it by 58%. Sky did not fall.
2017 tax referendum: The Oregon town of Ontario became the first city to pass a big sales tax saying the sky-will-fall without it. I helped lead and fund the effort for the tax referendum petition that stopped it by putting it to voters (Measure 23-58) who rejected it. Sky did not fall.
2025 tax referendum: Liberal lawmakers and Gov. Kotek passed a massive gas tax increase saying the sky-will-fall without it. Once again, I am co-chief petitioner to the tax referendum that stopped it by putting it to voters (Measure 120).
I’ve been doing tax referendum petitions for 20 years. I can attest that the politicians’ sky-will-fall scare tactic is a fraud.
25 years of daily tax and political news at OregonWatchdog.com
Join the movement to keep taxes low & stop government waste at
OregonWatchdog.com
(This information furnished by Jason D Williams, founder Taxpayers Association Oregon, Co-Chief Petitioner Gas Tax Referendum.)