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source_pdf: oregon-prosperity-council-report-june-2026.pdf
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page_range: [254, 257]
breadcrumb: ["Appendix E: Submissions & Feedback", "23. Jordan Papé, CEO, The Papé Group (Individual, Eugene)"]
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  raw_pages:
    - "../../.extracted/pages/page-0254.txt"
    - "../../.extracted/pages/page-0255.txt"
    - "../../.extracted/pages/page-0256.txt"
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---

# 23. Jordan Papé, CEO, The Papé Group (Individual, Eugene)

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## TL;DR  *(generated · confidence: high)*

Jordan Papé, CEO of The Papé Group, argues that Oregon's substantial natural and economic advantages are undermined by man-made barriers: restrictive land-use regulations, high taxes, underperforming K-12 education, and slow development approvals. He urges a fundamental reorientation toward growth-oriented planning, creation of a Commerce Department, comprehensive tax reform, regulatory streamlining, and K-12 improvement to restore Oregon's investment competitiveness.

**Key points** *(each cites a PDF page)*:

- Oregon ranks 7th highest regulated state nationally, with unique statewide zoning, Urban Growth Boundaries, and Exclusive Farm Use designations creating multiple layers of development vetoes ([p. 255](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=255))
- K-12 NAICS ratings are in bottom decile despite per-student funding 50% above pre-Measure 5 levels (inflation-adjusted) and teacher pay in top quartile ([p. 255](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=255))
- Oregon ranks last in economic development funding while ranking high in homelessness funding, creating fiscal unsustainability ([p. 256](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=256))
- Proposes shift from restrictive to growth-oriented land-use system backed by 3-5 biennia budget forecasting to generate needed state revenue ([p. 256](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=256))
- Recommends removing additional state-level wetlands restrictions on properly zoned land within UGBs that have already completed public review ([p. 256](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=256))
- Advocates comprehensive tax reform to reduce income and estate taxes, which deter capital investment ([p. 256](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=256))
- Proposes creation of Department of Commerce to oversee investment mandates, review regulatory barriers, and propose modernization ([p. 256](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=256))
- Recommends sunset requirements for administrative rules and programs with thorough cost-benefit review before renewal ([p. 256](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=256))
- Calls for reform of prevailing wage requirements and expanded shovel-ready industrial and commercial land funding ([p. 256](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=256))

Amounts: 7th highest regulated state in the country · bottom decile · top quartile · 50% more funding per student than pre-Measure 5 · last in economic development dollars · Dates/FTE: April 1, 2026 · Programs: Urban Growth Boundaries · Exclusive Farm Use designations · Measure 5 · Ballot Measure System · Department of Commerce · Prevailing wage requirements · Parties: Jordan Papé · The Papé Group · Water Watch · 1,000 Friends of Oregon

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> **Source:** PDF [pp. 254-257](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=254) · raw: [254](../../.extracted/pages/page-0254.txt) · [255](../../.extracted/pages/page-0255.txt) · [256](../../.extracted/pages/page-0256.txt) · [257](../../.extracted/pages/page-0257.txt)

Breadcrumb: Appendix E: Submissions & Feedback > 23. Jordan Papé, CEO, The Papé Group (Individual, Eugene)

---
April 1, 2026
Oregon’s Economic Development Strategy: Lock, Barricade and Delay Investments
If you were searching the world for a nearly ideal climate with ability to grow abundant
food and ready access to construction, specialty materials, and technological know-how,
it is hard to beat Oregon.
Oregon’s strengths:
 Access to fresh water
 Historically low-cost hydroelectric and nuclear power
 Diversified, high value, specialty food crops
 Direct access to abundant high-value fisheries
 Abundant natural resources, especially for building materials –
o Large healthy forests
o Strong specialty metals hub near Albany.
 Silicon Forest knowledge and experience
 High value minerals
 I-5 trade corridor gives us ready trade access to great markets from BC to Mexico
 Deepwater ports connecting Oregon to the Pacific Rim and beyond
 High value Universities
Our greatest challenges are man-made. Our policies shun investment, our cultural
priorities mock investment, and our tax system punishes investment.
What’s Holding us back?
 Most companies use consultants and attorneys when planning a major investment. A
state that is high-tax, high-regulation, poor-education, and low economic base is
analytically a low-priority investment for businesses.
 Businesses focus on eliminating risks but Oregon specializes in creating uncertain and
contentious outcomes.
 Investments are typically time sensitive, states (like Oregon) that delay development are
deprioritized for investment.
541-683-5073
PO Box 407, Eugene OR 97440

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 Oregon is the 7 highest regulated state in the country:
o Literally EVERY other state is easier to develop. Oregon has the ONLY
statewide:
 Zoning
 Urban Growth Boundaries, and
 Exclusive Farm Use designations.
o Our land use system is designed to create multiple layers of development vetoes.
If you think a project fits the zoning and UGB requirements, Water Watch or
1,000 Friends of Oregon will tie you up in court to kill your project.
 State income taxes are high for corporate and personal income tax. Additional local level
taxes, in places like Multnomah County, become tests of sanity for anyone thinking
about investing in Oregon.
o Why would decision makers prioritize bringing a business to a place where their
business will be financially less successful and they will be financially punished
personally?
 Our Ballot Measure System creates a low barrier for radical legislative ideas. Why risk
coming to Oregon when we allow ourselves to be the petri dish for extreme and
unpredictable legislation?
 Our K-12 education system is among the worst performing education systems in the
country.
o Our education system rewards adults and ignores student achievement.
 Inflation adjusted, we provide 50% more funding per student than pre-
Measure 5
 Our teachers are paid in the top quartile
 Our NAICS ratings are in the bottom decile
 Our instruction time is among the lowest in the country
In an age where Ai and Robotics are going to begin reshaping how work is performed,
states that aren’t attracting new jobs and investments will end up in an economic doom
loop that could crush working families and government services.
What are we competing against:
 North Carolina has a the Economic Development Partnership of NC (EDPNC) that
moves faster than the speed of government to connect companies to sites, workforce
and incentives - quickly
541-683-5073
PO Box 407, Eugene OR 97440

 Arizona has economic development offices around the world (7)
 States get more of what they invest in
 Oregon ranks last in economic development dollars
 Oregon ranks high in homelessness funding
o Ironically – we’re creating an ecosystem of homelessness initiatives, but we’re
driving out the taxpayers that we’d need to make programs like this sustainable
over time.
The Fixes aren’t complicated and don’t need to be unique to Oregon
Oregon needs to:
 Mandate a 10 year budget analysis of state revenue and expenditures, identifying costs
that are escalating beyond what the state’s GDP can support.
 Move from a land use system designed to restrict investment to one that mandates
investment. We should be looking out 3-5 biennia, working on what our expected
budget will be, then backing into the investments we will need to generate the revenue
required to fund the state’s expenditures. A growth mindset to fund expanding services.
 Create and fund a Department of Commerce to oversee the mandates to grow, review
barriers to investment, and propose regulatory fixes to moderate overly restrictive
policies.
 Properly zoned land, inside a UGB, should no longer be subject to additional state-level
wetlands restrictions. The land has already gone through a public information process,
elected leaders have weighed the trade-offs, and the state has an opportunity to weigh-
in during the UGB expansion process. Once the land is part of the city’s growth plan,
the state cannot maintain additional land use restrictions.
 Expand funding for shovel-ready industrial and commercial land.
 Review rules and regulations to moderate state agencies.
 Reform prevailing wage requirements that discourage public-private investment.
 Regain our focus on being a world leader in low-cost energy.
 Establish a sunset for administrative rules and programs, requiring a thorough review of
the cost and benefits before renewal.
 Undergo a comprehensive tax reform process. We cannot continue to push away
capital by maintaining the highest income and estate taxes.
 Preempt local jurisdictions from raising taxes, already preempted at the state level, by
calling them licenses or fees.
541-683-5073
PO Box 407, Eugene OR 97440

th th
 Overhaul our K-12 system to improve our 4 and 8 grade reading, math and science
scores so that families are proud to move to Oregon rather than questioning if they are
sacrificing their children’s future by livinWith appreciation,
Jordan Papé
CEO, The Papé Group
541-683-5073
PO Box 407, Eugene OR 97440

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Parent: [Appendix E: Submissions & Feedback](./INDEX.md) · PDF: [pp. 254-257](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=254)