Taxing Matter
By Karl Klooster
Over the last several months, a crisis mode has beset the Oregon wine, beer and cider industries. The heightened level of concern centers on HR 3296, a proposed bill in the Oregon State House of Representatives. And “crisis” seems appropriate. The aptly named Alcohol Crisis Recovery Act would have imposed a crippling 1,600% hike in gallonage tax on the state’s wine trade and a disastrous 2,800% on the brewing and hard cider industries. The consequences of such onerous increases would seriously compromise, if not force into bankruptcy, hundreds of small Oregon companies already struggling from the negative impacts of COVID-19 and last year’s seasonal wildfires.