Why is government at all levels asking you for more money for stuff they’re already supposed to do? Because they spent it doing stuff that they’re NOT supposed to do. At every level Oregon government has allowed mission creep to set in. Pet projects, pretty ponies and pink unicorns bleed money away from the fundamental missions of government. Tell every one of them a big fat “NO.”
Tri Met is asking for more bus money when it’s been cutting back bus service. Why are they cutting back bus service? Because pensions and benefits are out of control and all available leftover funds are going to light rail. As blogger and Lewis and Clark law professor, Jack Bogdanski, put it in a letter to the editor in the Portland Tribune,

Just say “NO” to this boondoggle which will just continue to fund the same bad management practices that have been going on for years at Tri Met. 

Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard wants more money for fire trucks but Portland city taxpayers already pay for fire trucks and important toys. It’s called PUBLIC SAFETY. It’s what government is supposed to do. Why isn’t there enough money for Randy’s beloved trucks? If the the city council doesn’t fund police and fire first, what is it spending our money on? Everything else. You realize how far off the reservation these folks have gotten when they say they don’t have enough money for the basics. Sam Adams let Randy refer this bond measure to the ballot after they did a deal on the police chief. Don’t fall for it. To quote what now has become a mantra, We don’t have a funding problem, we have a spending problem. Say “NO” to this request and all the other Portland issues–especially Voter Pnwed elections. What a joke. This is an incumbency protection act at taxpayer expense.

Multnomah County is asking you to please create a special taxing Library District and the Oregon Historical Society wants you to fund it with a special taxing district. In the case of the library, backers, which include the government, say it won’t raise taxes. Let’s get a show of hands: Does anyone believe this? Does anyone reading this doubt there will be a tax increase coming soon with these special districts. What’s the point if it doesn’t? This is an obvious attempt to shift big items off the county’s budget spread sheet so it can use the money in other ways. Say NO WAY!

Oregon government officials and their environmentalist friends think it’s a great idea for you to say yes to siphoning off lottery money for more environmental projects in the parks. NO. This is a scheme to pass through money to environmental groups. I don’t play the lottery, but I’m sick and tired of this pot of money being plundered. If I wanted to give my money to the Sierra Club or Fill-in-the-blank “Riverkeepers,” or Fill-in-the-blank-Defense-Fund, I would. Taxpayers shouldn’t. Remember when the lottery was supposed to fund “economic development?” Yeah, that’s worked out well.