Sellwood Bridge re-opens

Um, no, there were several reasons why 67% of Clackamas County voters declined to tax themselves an additional ten dollars every two years for their motor vehicle registration.  One reason was no "sunset clause" was written into the measure.  The county could continue to collect the increased fee, tax, "investment", whatever you want to call it long after the originally agreed upon contribution was paid for the bridge.  Another stumbling block was no ten dollar cap incorporated into the measure.  In fact, the county commission members could vote to increase it up to $43 over and above what we already pay for registration, license and DEQ fees.  Quite a difference between $10 and $43.  And, until recently, Clackamas County was saddled with a 4-1 liberal-wasteful/pragmatic ratio of county commissioners.  There was a very real possibility of ever increasing fees extorted from county motor vehicle operators.  Thankfully the voters in the last election remedied that imbalance to a more fiscally sound ratio of 2-3.  Another point refers to the fact the Sellwood Bridge is located in, and owned by Multnomah County.  Do Multnomah County and Portland residents wish to contribute their tax money to build new transportation projects and maintain aging infrastructure in Clackamas County that they use?  Didn't think so.  This miss-guided, poorly conceived measure would have set a bad precedent.  No county should be compelled to help fund another county's transportation projects.  Where would that debacle end..........Besides, Clackamas County taxpayers already contributed their share to the $35,000,000 federal tax, and $33,000,000 state tax dollars earmarked for this project.  Most of us pay at least some amount of state and federal taxes. In closing, we Clackamas County taxpayers like to think of ourselves as more fiscally prudent with our tax dollars.........especially compared to some of our more liberal neighbors in Multnomah County in general, and Portland in particular.  Our recently deposed county commissioners Charlotte Lehan and Jamie Damon experienced the perils of being "tone deaf' and exhibiting "poor listening skills" to their constituents.      

 @dougrpdx  @MlwkieRage   "The more money they have the more they concentrate on hanging onto it."  How is that unlike you or anyone else?  Let's turn your statement around: The more money others have, the more you try to get your hands on it.