Sales Tax Cut Aimed At 2 Counties

The whole House will vote on legislation that would cut the state sales tax in half in Washington and Payette counties so merchants in those border counties could better compete with businesses located in Oregon, which has no sales tax.

Several merchants testified Friday before the House Revenue and Taxation Committee in favor of Rep. Donna Jones’ bill. If the state sales tax were 2-1/2 percent in the two border counties, instead of 5 percent, she estimates it would cost $2.2 million per year in lost sales tax revenue but that would be made up by increased economic activity.