Old time television buffs might remember Maynard G. Krebs from the ancient Dobie Gillis Show. Bob Denver played the role before he became known as Gilligan in Gilligan’s Island.

Like Gilligan, Maynard G. Krebs was a memorable character. One strong memory which withstands the test of time arises from instances when Maynard would hear the word “work.” He would routinely respond by repeating the word in a high pitched voice then contort his body as if he had been scared by a demon.

The analogy here is between Maynard and the word “work,” and Oregonians and the word “taxes.”

Both are common words that do not have to be as frightening as they seem.

By late in the evening of Jan. 28 Oregonians will know the official results of a special election targeted toward relieving the major budgetary crunch this state is facing. Oregonians are being asked to tax themselves an additional $114 per year on average to help salvage some basic state agencies from some major, major cutbacks.

Effected among other state agencies would be the Oregon State Police, the Oregon State Corrections System, juvenile systems across the state and mental health, to name a few. Public schools, too, would be impacted.

At one point in time in the early 1980s there were 655 troopers deployed across the state. Since that time the population has increased dramatically and the number of licensed drivers has increased another 33 percent. If ballot measure #28 fails to pass, the number of troopers working across Oregon, already reduced to 380 since the OSP began getting its funding from the state’s general fund, will be reduced to 235. Compare that number to the 700 troopers working in the similarly sized and populated state to the north, Washington, and a dilemma begins to unfold.

OSP Lt. Reg Madsen from the La Grande office foresees “some serious management challenges” in the future. He suggests a scenario of a young trooper on the freeway 60 miles away from backup.

Wallowa County Juvenile Department Director John Lawrence recently told the Wallowa County Board of Commissioners that Measure #28 does not pass, hundreds of youth now in incarceration would be released because there is no money available to finance their captivity. Add the similar cutbacks faced in adult corrections, and Oregon would undoubtedly become less safe than it is today.

Oregonians have a lot of good reasons for opposing any tax increases in the state. They have a lot of good reasons for opposing Measure #28 even though it would only be in effect three years, then revert back to the status quo.

Ask anyone if they think this measure has a chance of passing and the answer, understandably because of Oregon’s long history of opposing taxes, will be a resounding NO.

But maybe this is one instance where Oregonians should look beyond the knee jerk reaction to the word “taxes” and thoroughly study the ramifications of a NO vote. A YES vote might not solve all of our problems, but it might bring us up to an even zero. – Rocky Wilson