222,000 Have Paid Arts Tax; Deadline Today

UPDATE: Arts tax payment website crashes.

By NIGEL JAQUISS

UPDATE, 6:25 pm: Several procrastinating readers have alerted WW that the arts tax website—the city's preferred method of payment—has crashed. It could not handle the volume of people trying to pay on the last day before a promised $20 penalty.

"At this point the deadline to pay the Arts Tax will be extended until the problem is resolved," the site reads. "We appreciate everyone's patience with this situation."

The city does not say how long it is extending the deadline. —A. Mesh

ORIGINAL POST, 2:05 pm: A surprisingly high number of Portlanders—220,000—have filed returns for the controversial $35 arts tax voters approved last November. Some of those who have filed are exempt from payment but those who have paid have coughed up $6 million, which is 70 percent of the amount originally expected this year.

Considering the tax is brand new and the subject of much confusion and some litigation, that's a strong rate of compliance.

Today is the deadline for payment, according to a press press the city issued this afternoon:

 

WWeek 2015

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.