PSU Spending Big on Consulting for Tax Measure

Winning Mark hired to get voters okay for the $30 million payroll tax to fund student tuition.

By Rachel Monahan

Portland State University hasn't yet begun gathering signatures for a ballot initiative to create a $35 million payroll tax to fund student tuition.

But the school's ballot campaign is already spending big money on political consultants.

Records filed April 1 show the campaign paid $43,534 to Winning Mark, the consulting firm owned by Mark Wiener.

The filing says the campaign is paying Winning Mark for management services, as well as advertising via buttons and yard signs.

"If all the money we've paid Winning Mark went directly to Mark's salary, the tax would cost his business $43," said chief petitioner Peter Zuckerman. "It's a tiny tax that has a massive return, and it's paid by businesses, not workers."

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