You make good points about the lack of affordable housing here as it relates to Intel's decision to locate in Ohio. Yes, this is a workforce and economic development issue as well.
Also, I do think that, given the crisis you describe, it is government's responsibility to incentivize the building of more affordable housing, but not necessarily via tax increases. The state has more unallocated funds now than ever before. More of those funds can be deployed for such incentives. Ditto for at least some of the kicker, at least for higher-income taxpayers. That last point may be characterized as a tax increase by some. But it's one time money generated from existing income taxes, not increases in tax rates. Both unallocated funds and excess kicker funds for higher income Oregonians are one time funds, best used for one time purposes. Surely getting more affordable housing built would be a beneficial one-time purpose -- an investment, as we progressives like to say (often for too many things that aren't one-time) that will have a long life span and long-term payoffs for our people and our economy.
Thank you for these ideas.
You make good points about the lack of affordable housing here as it relates to Intel's decision to locate in Ohio. Yes, this is a workforce and economic development issue as well.
Also, I do think that, given the crisis you describe, it is government's responsibility to incentivize the building of more affordable housing, but not necessarily via tax increases. The state has more unallocated funds now than ever before. More of those funds can be deployed for such incentives. Ditto for at least some of the kicker, at least for higher-income taxpayers. That last point may be characterized as a tax increase by some. But it's one time money generated from existing income taxes, not increases in tax rates. Both unallocated funds and excess kicker funds for higher income Oregonians are one time funds, best used for one time purposes. Surely getting more affordable housing built would be a beneficial one-time purpose -- an investment, as we progressives like to say (often for too many things that aren't one-time) that will have a long life span and long-term payoffs for our people and our economy.