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Sep-17-2006 18:42printcomments

Cost of War in Iraq Has Cost Salem Taxpayers Over $97 Million

The Cost of Iraq War calculator is set to reach $318.5 billion by September 30th, the end of fiscal year 2006.

Soldier in Iraq
Photo courtesy: Oregon National Guard

(SALEM) - The Salem taxpayer cost for the Iraq War stands at over $97 million dollars as of Sunday. In Marion County the taxpayer cost is over $210 million, Polk County over $48 million, Linn County over $70 million, and Yamhill County over $68 million. The numbers, come from the National Priorities Project. The breakdown is based on a total cost of $318.5 billion. That is $2,844 for every American household or $1,075 for every American. The money (already spent or allocated) is being spent at a rate $10 million per hour and $244 million per day. The estimate is based on an NPP analysis of the legislation appropriating money for the Iraq War and a report published by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) in June 2006. The CRS report was based not just on Congressional appropriations, but on the Department of Defense's (DOD) DFAS monthly obligations reports indicating funds transferred from other functions to the Iraq War. The state-level costs in the table are computed based on how much each state contributes in tax revenues, according to IRS data. The local-level costs are based on the state costs, and on relative population and income levels in each location. These numbers were updated for the latest IRS data in May 2005. The population and household amounts are based on Census Bureau estimates: population for July 1st, 2005; households for 2004. The taxpayer amount is based on IRS projected tax filers for the 2005 tax year. The money spent on the Iraq War by Salem taxpayers could have provided the following: 12,793 children could have attended Head Start for one year. 869 housing units for low income families could have been built. 57,836 children could have had health care for one year. 1,673 public school teachers could have been hired. So far, Oregon taxpayers have spent over $2.5 billion on the Iraq War. The Cost of Iraq War calculator is occasionally reset based on new information and new allocations of funding. The numbers include military and non-military spending, such as reconstruction. Spending only includes incremental costs, additional funds that are expended due to the war. For example, soldiers' regular pay is not included, but combat pay is included. Potential future costs, such as future medical care for soldiers and veterans wounded in the war, are not included. It is also not clear whether the current funding will cover all military wear and tear. It also does not account for the Iraq War being deficit-financed and that taxpayers will need to make additional interest payments on the national debt due to those deficits. For more information, or to see the latest totals, visit www.costofwar.com.




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Henry Ruark September 20, 2006 7:03 pm (Pacific time)

EQ: You have a point..so why not fill it in for us ? List those main "positives" you see arising from this ongoing conflict, while it is still in full fling.


eqriddler September 18, 2006 9:26 pm (Pacific time)

Good job delineating the costs associated with conducting this military intervention. Besides the costs what do feel are the positives? Obviously, many people are of the opinion that the costs outweigh the positives but in order to put into perspective the imbalance of the situation, it has to be expressed not merely implied or assumed.


Albert Marnell September 17, 2006 8:25 pm (Pacific time)

The cold war ended and the defense industry needed a new market for its products. Hence, combine an allowed attack and a fake attack along with an Anthrax scare (created by the government) and it all =$'s waste, death, occupation, domestic hardship, a divided nation, corruption, loss of respect in the world etc. etc. etc.

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