Understatement of the Day: Beaverton 'fees'

The Oregonian's Washington County blog made me laugh today, as I caught an entry from a few days ago. Here's the first sentence:

Beaverton officials have created a list of 23 priority transportation projects totaling nearly $16.6 million that they would pay for if the city adopts new fees.

"If the city adopts new fees." That must be government speak for raising taxes. The estimated population of Beaverton in 2005 was 85,775, so to raise $16.55 million would mean requiring an additional $193 from every man, woman and child inside the city limits.

And they wonder why some people throw such a tissy over the annexation issue...