Attempting Non-Incremental Budget Change in Oregon: An Exercise in Policy Sharing

Abstract

In 1990 Oregon passed Measure 5, a constitutional property tax limitation that threatens massive funding cuts to education and government services. In response, Governor Barbara Roberts undertook an experiment in policy sharing, engaging in a "conversation" via closed circuit television with some 10,000 Oregonians about taxes and services before she formulated a tax restructuring plan. The resultant tax proposal appeared carefully balanced and moderate. It had something to offer each of the state's powerful constituencies but managed, nonetheless, to balance the budget. A special legislative session was called to decide whether to refer the governor's proposed tax restructuring to a vote of the people in the wake of Measure 5. At the end of a short, emotionally charged session, the legislature voted not to refer the plan to a vote of the people. This paper examines this process in the light of the literature and examples of other attempts to use citizen participation in formulating public policy.