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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon judge has approved ballot language for a proposed payroll tax that would solely benefit Portland State University.
The judge also dismissed a challenge to the measure's legality filed by the Portland Business Alliance, the city's chamber of commerce, The Oregonian/Oregon Live (http://bit.ly/1SX6g6F ) reported.
Campaign organizers can now start collecting signatures to get the tax on the ballot in November. Supporters need to gather 34,164 signatures by July 26.
"It's full steam ahead," said Yes for PSU campaign spokeswoman Karen Pelland. "We're committed to making this a reality."
The campaign will hold an all-day signature gathering event on May 10 and hopes to collect 5,000 valid signatures over the next three weeks using both paid and volunteer staff.
The main contributor to the campaign so far is PSU's philanthropic arm, the PSU Foundation, which has donated $375,000.
The proposed one-tenth of 1 percent payroll tax on wages paid by Portland-area businesses would generate about $40 million a year for PSU. The money would be used for need-based scholarships, counselors, professors and emergency tuition assistance.
Portland Business Alliance President Sandra McDonough said she hopes PSU finds another way forward.
"We hope that PSU will understand that a big public fight over a ballot measure will not serve anyone well, especially the institution they want to make stronger," McDonough said.
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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com
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