Novick v. Myers

Oregon Supreme Court
Novick v. Myers, 332 Or. 340 (Or. 2001)
29 P.3d 1100; 2001 Ore. LEXIS 618
Gillette

Novick v. Myers

Opinion

*342 GILLETTE, J.

This ballot title review proceeding brought under ORS 250.085(2) concerns the Attorney General’s certified ballot title for a proposed initiative measure, denominated by the Secretary of State as Initiative Petition 48 (2002). The proposed measure, if adopted, would phase in a revenue sharing procedure in which 15 percent of state personal and corporate income tax revenue would be distributed “to local governments and those local service districts providing essential services.”

Petitioner is an elector who timely submitted written comments to the Secretary of State concerning the content of the Attorney General’s draft ballot title and who therefore is entitled to seek review in this court. See ORS 250.085(2) (stating that requirement). We review the Attorney General’s certified ballot title to determine whether it substantially complies with the requirements of ORS 250.035(2)(a) to (d). ORS 250.085(5).

Petitioner challenges only the “yes” result statement in the Attorney General’s ballot title. That statement provides:

“ “Yes’ vote requires distribution of fifteen percent of all state income tax revenue to some local governments, service districts that do not tax business income.”

A “yes” result statement must set out a “simple and understandable statement of not more than 25 words that describes the result if the state measure is approved.” ORS 250.035(2)(b). Petitioner asserts that the Attorney General’s “yes” result statement fails to comply with the requirements of ORS 250.035(2)(b), in that it suggests — incorrectly — that the only local governments that are eligible to receive shared tax revenues are those governments that do not themselves tax business income. In fact, as petitioner points out, several such governments will be qualified to receive shared tax revenues, but their ordinary share will be reduced by the amount that they raise through their own local taxes on personal or business income, revenue, or profits.

*343 The Attorney General concedes that petitioner’s criticism of the “yes” result statement is well taken, and we agree. We hold that the Attorney General’s “yes” result statement fails to comply substantially with the requirements of ORS 250.035(2)(b). Under ORS 250.085(8), Or Laws 2001, ch 802, § 2 (House Bill 2213), the ballot title is referred to the Attorney General for modification. See Flanagan v. Myers, 332 Or 318, 30 P3d 408 (2001) (explaining procedure under 2001 legislative amendments to ORS 250.085).

Ballot title referred to Attorney General for modification.

Reference

Full Case Name
Steven NOVICK, Petitioner, v. Hardy MYERS, Attorney General, State of Oregon, Respondent
Cited By
1 case
Status
Published