Oregon’s fiscal situation is the dominant issue for this 2017 session of the Oregon Legislature. A gap of some 1.3 billion dollars for projected expenditures is forcing difficult choices affecting virtually all State budget programming. What are the policy issues involved? What options exist between new revenues and curtailed expenditures? On May 19, at the final presentation of the Salem City Club’s programming year, these and other related questions will be addressed by Dr. Paul Warner, a leading expert on Oregon’s financial picture. Paul Warner has served as the Legislative Revenue Officer for the State of Oregon since 1999. This office is a permanent, nonpartisan legislative service agency providing research and analysis on tax policy and finance issues for legislators, legislative committees and the public. Prior to coming over to the Legislative branch, Paul was Oregon’s State Economist from 1989 to 1999. In that capacity, he directed the Office of Economic Analysis, which is the state’s chief economic and demographic forecasting unit. This office produces the state’s General Fund and Lottery revenue forecasts that are used to balance both the Governor’s Recommended Budget and the Legislatively Adopted Budget. Paul grew up in the Tacoma area. He received a B.A. degree from Central Washington University in 1976 and a Ph.D. in economics from Washington State University in 1981. Following graduation, he served as an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for four years. Between 1986 and 1989, Paul was Senior Economist responsible for tax policy analysis and revenue forecasting for the State of Mississippi.
