Case Title: Sizemore/Bosak v. Myers (Certification)

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: oregon

Court: Oregon Supreme Court

Date: 2001-08-24T00:00:00Z

Document:
Filed:  August 24, 2001
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON
BILL SIZEMORE,
Petitioner,
v.
HARDY MYERS,
Attorney General for the State of Oregon,
Respondent.
_____________________________
TRICIA BOSAK
and JAMES SAGER,
Petitioners,
v.
HARDY MYERS,
Attorney General for the State of Oregon,
Respondent.
(SC S48390; S48391)
(Consolidated for Opinion)
	On modified ballot title filed August 16, 2001.*
	Janet A. Metcalf, Assistant Attorney General, Salem,
filed the Filing of Modified Ballot Title for respondent. 
With her on the filing were Hardy Myers, Attorney
General, and Michael D. Reynolds, Solicitor General.
	No appearance contra.
	Before Carson, Chief Justice, and Gillette, Durham,
Leeson, Riggs, and De Muniz, Justices.
	The modified ballot title is certified.  The
appellate judgment shall issue in accordance with ORS
250.085(9).
	* Sizemore/Bosak v. Myers, 332 Or 335, ___ P3d ___
(2001) (referring ballot title for modification).
		The court in this ballot title review
proceeding determined that the Attorney General's
certified ballot title for a proposed initiative measure,
which the Secretary of State denominated as Initiative
Petition 28 (2002), failed to comply substantially with
statutory standards.  Sizemore/Bosak v. Myers, 332 Or
335, ___ P3d ___ (2001).  Under Oregon Laws 2001, chapter
802, section 2 (now codified as ORS 250.085(8)), the
court referred the ballot title to the Attorney General
for modification.  The Attorney General has filed a
modified ballot title for the proposed initiative
measure, and no party to the ballot title review
proceeding has objected.  See ORS 250.085(9) (setting out
period within which party may object to modified ballot
title and requiring court to certify modified ballot
title if no objection filed).
	The modified ballot title for Initiative
Petition 28 (2002) states:
	"AMENDS CONSTITUTION: ELIMINATES BY 2007 MOST RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES SENIORS PAY; REQUIRES GOVERNMENT PAYMENT TO SENIOR RENTERS
		"RESULT OF 'YES' VOTE: 'Yes' vote first
incrementally reduces, then within five years eliminates,
most residential property taxes seniors pay; also
requires counties to make payments to senior renters.
		"RESULT OF 'NO' VOTE: 'No' vote retains current
property tax laws; rejects proposal to eliminate within
five years most property taxes seniors pay, and to
require payments to renters.
		"SUMMARY:  Amends Oregon Constitution.  Current
laws tax residential property owners equally, but allow
low income seniors to defer property taxes.  Measure
would eliminate within five years most property taxes on
seniors' primary residence.  Measure does not affect
temporary voter-approved property taxes.  Maximum
tax reduction is 150 percent of
property tax due on average home in
same county as taxpayer's primary
residence.  In first year, seniors
80 and older receive maximum
reduction; seniors 65- 79 receive 25
percent reduction.  By fifth year,
seniors 65 and older receive maximum
reduction.  Measure also would
require counties to pay senior
renters amount equal to tax
reduction they would have received
as owners.  Measure would reduce
revenues available for schools and
other government services funded by
property taxes.  Other provisions."
	The modified ballot title is certified.  The appellate
judgment shall issue in accordance with ORS 250.085(9)