Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregonians would see smaller tax rebate checks in the future under a plan being considered by a legislative task force Thursday.  The proposal would modify the way the kicker refund is calculated.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

State analysts have to guess how much tax revenue will come in during each two-year budget cycle.  When they underestimate by more than two percent, the extra money goes back to taxpayers in the form of a kicker check.

Under the new proposal, revenue forecasters could estimate a range rather than a specific number.

That would make a refund less likely and mean more money for the state’s Rainy Day Fund.  

Democratic State Senator Ginny Burdick admits the idea may be a hard sell to the public.

Ginny Burdick:  “When you have a situation like we have in Oregon where we go from boom to bust in the budget, we cannot afford to say ‘Oh this is too hard, the voters might not like it.’”

The proposal would come before the full Legislature next year, and could ultimately wind up on the Oregon ballot.

The kicker is part of the Oregon Constitution but the method of forecasting is not.