I think we need to choose a third option: funding our services and solving our problems locally. We should start by recognizing that the reason we have a fiscal crisis on all levels of government is that for 25 years we’ve been giving huge, irresponsible tax cuts to a very small number of very rich people and very big corporations. I believe we can fund our services on the local level if those who received these tax cuts pay their fair share on the local level.

We can restore fairness to our tax code by in effect repealing the Bush tax cuts on the local level. I propose we make the Multnomah County Income tax very progressive, instead of basically flat, like the just-expired Itax. We should exempt up to the median income so that anyone making less than $45,000 would pay nothing. Income for people at that level and below has gone down over the last 25 years, and they have received little if any of the federal tax cuts. Income over $45,000, could be taxed at 1%, with the rate gradually increasing to 3.25% for income over half a million dollars.

This progressive income tax could raise as much revenue as the old Itax, but half of us would pay nothing, and 80% of us, anyone making less than $75,000 would pay less than they did under the Itax. Everyone, even the wealthiest taxed at the highest rate, would pay less in combined federal, state, and local income taxes than they did before the Bush tax cuts. 40% of the Bush tax cuts have gone to the richest 1%.

We can fund schools, health care, affordable housing, public safety, addiction treatment, the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, and other vital services if we all pay our fair share.

For more about Xander Patterson and the race for Multnomah County Commissioner visit www.VoteXander.org."