PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Administrators at Portland State University are seeking a metro-area payroll tax to fund scholarships for local students.
PSU President Wim Wiewel (VIHM VEE’-vel) says it’s unlikely the state will provide enough money for the university to set an affordable tuition rate.
Wiewel tells the Oregonian (https://bit.ly/1GOMGY4 ) that PSU administrators have worked on the idea for years. They’re developing an initiative petition that would put the idea before voters in the 2016 election.
The tax of about a tenth of a percent of payroll would be levied on employers. It would raise between $24 and $50 million a year. Wiewel says employers would benefit from PSU’s enhanced role in educating a qualified workforce.
Portland Business Alliance President Sandra McDonough says the organization needs to know more in order to take a position, but some employers are concerned about the cost.
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Information from: The Oregonian, https://www.oregonlive.com
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