Tax idea no laughing matter

Birders propose taxing birdseed to bolster habitat

By Debby de Carlo

Pamplin Media Group, Jun 11, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

JONATHAN HOUSE / Pamplin Media Group

Scott Lukens, owner of Backyard Birdshop, supports a 10 percent tax on his topselling product — birdseed — to improve wildlife habitat in Oregon.

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When local birdwatchers proposed taxing themselves to raise money for habitat preservation, The Oregonian newspaper lampooned the idea, labeling it one of the silliest bills before the 2009 Oregon Legislature.

But wildlife advocates say the proposed 10 percent tax on wholesale birdseed is no laughing matter.

The tax could raise nearly $5 million every two years — and qualify for an equal amount of federal matching money.

“I continue to think it’s good public policy, and I think it’s the kind of thing Republicans and Democrats can come together on,” says State Rep. Chris Garrett, D-Lake Oswego, who introduced House Bill 3303.

For now, Garrett and other supporters have withdrawn the bill, waiting for a more auspicious time. But the idea is far from dead.

It’s a matter of fairness, says Bob Sallinger, conservation director of Audubon Society of Portland.

Money derived from hunting and fishing licenses provides the bulk of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s budget. Yet 88 percent of the species the agency is charged with protecting are non-game critters.

“Less than 2 percent of the ODFW budget goes to those species,” Sallinger says. “Hunters and anglers have said for years they were contributing more than their fair share of the budget and they have a point.”

Sallinger began to wonder why birders weren’t “putting their money where their binoculars were,” especially at a time when bird populations are declining.

Retailer steps up

Scott Lukens was thinking along the same lines.

Lukens, owner of seven Backyard Bird Shops in the Portland area and a former Audubon board member, came up with the idea of taxing wholesale birdseed and using the money to promote wildlife-watching opportunities. He presented the idea to fellow members of the state fish and wildlife agency’s Conservation Strategy Committee, and they endorsed the proposal.

More than 50 percent of Lukens’ sales come from birdseed, and he figures the tax would raise $150,000 from those sales alone.

Lukens realizes that without birds he wouldn’t have a business. “Birds don’t just stay in my back yard. They move around. We need to think about their habitat. We need to think about our children and their children,” he says.

After his idea was introduced in the 2009 legislative session, Lukens grew worried that, because of the state budget crisis, the revenue might not be used for protecting wildlife habitat as intended.

In past recessions, he recalls, “money has been raided” from other specially dedicated funds to make up for large deficits. “I really want to see the bill reintroduced in a couple of years when the economy has improved.”

Lukens says he’d pass on the price increase directly to customers and wouldn’t make a cent from the tax. Rather, his topselling product would cost more.

Sales at his stores are increasing despite the deep recession, Lukens says, and he notices many customers freely give money to support Audubon at its annual May birdathon fundraiser.

Wholesalers may have a different view.