It's hard to compare some spirit taxes directly because there are state-controlled stores, wholesale taxes, taxes per case, etc. But if Oregon's spirit tax isn't already the highest in the nation, it's right up there...and temporarily going up.
At an emergency meeting Monday, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission approved a 50 cent surcharge on all liquor bottles more than 750 milliliters. The tax on anything smaller will be pro-rated.
The increase will take affect April 1st, and run through June 30th, the end of the state's fiscal year.
The Oregon Legislature made cuts last week in state agencies as it balanced the current budget, a step lawmakers had to take before undertaking the bigger task for writing a state budget for 2009-2011. They cut the Liquor Control Commission budget $3.8 million. The OLCC was looking to reduce commissions to store agents from anywhere between $500,000 and $1.9 million, which amounts to about 25 percent of the pay the store owners were expecting between now and June 30.
However, the surcharge should help soften the impact, and allow agents to avoid cutting more store hours and jobs.
As per Tax Foundation data, Oregon's spirit tax is $20.76 per gallon. This will increase it to $23.28 per gallon. That should boost traffic on the Siskiyou Summit, as not all taxes are higher in California.
Some guys have all the luck.
The cost for a fifth of Scoresby is 11.95 in Astoria...12.95 in Long Beach, Wa.
I wonder if it's possible for me to send a case of wine to a friend in, say, Baker? What would UPS charges on that be? Would that be legal?
And what is the cost of scotch in California?
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Posted by: OregonGuy | March 11, 2009 at 11:43
I hadn't looked at the site for a few days, so I drove right by Hilt CA (first liquor store across the border) and didn't check the price there. However further south, Scoresby is running between $15-17 per 1.75L bottle. California's spirit tax is $3.30 per gallon, way below ours.
Posted by: RoguePundit | March 16, 2009 at 10:21